Tissue Engineering of Lung

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a decellularized tissue. The present invention also provides an engineered three dimensional lung tissue exhibiting characteristics of a natural lung tissue. The engineered tissue is useful for the study of lung developmental biology and pathology as well as drug discovery.

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method of alleviating or treating a lung defect in a mammal, the method comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof, a therapeutically effective amount of a cell genetically modified to express a gene, thereby alleviating or treating said lung defect in the mammal. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cell is isolated from the mammal and is cultured in vitro prior to administering to the mammal. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cell is isolated from the mammal and is genetically modified in vitro prior to administering to the mammal. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the cell isolated from the mammal is an airway epithelial cell. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the cell isolated from the mammal is an airway epithelial cell. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the gene expresses a mRNA encoding a polypeptide. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the polypeptide is CFTR. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cell is a stem cell. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cell is autologous to the mammal. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the lung defect is cystic fibrosis. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the gene is CFTR. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cell is administered to the mammal via the airway. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cell is administered to the mammal by way of an inhaled route. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the cell is administered to the mammal by way of direct injection.