Quoted from http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s2929158.htm
Australian breakthrough may help lung disease patients
Sarah Gerathy reported this story on Thursday, June 17, 2010 08:09:00
TONY EASTLEY: Australian scientists say they’ve made a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for lung diseases like emphysema, asbestosis and severe asthma.
They’ve discovered that a type of cell found in human placentas can reduce inflammation and scarring to the lungs.
The team from the Lung Institute of Western Australia and the Monash Institute of Medical Research has successfully tested the treatment on mice and are now planning to conduct trials on human tissue.
They’ve published their findings in this month’s issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Sarah Gerathy spoke to the study’s lead researcher, Associate Professor Yuben Moodley.
YUBEN MOODLEY: What we found is that in the human placenta there are cells that develop from the embryo, that are not part of the embryo, that are then passed into the placenta and form part of the placenta. These cells seem to have properties whereby they can differentiate into lung cells, not completely but show that type of property or phenotype.
SARAH GERATHY: And I understand you’ve now successfully tested the cell on mice, so can you tell us a little bit about that?
