Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells able to differentiate along different
pathways including chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. MSCs with a
fibroblast-like morphology have been identified in human fetal lung. However, their
frequency and characterization in human adult lung have not been yet evaluated. Therefore,
we analyzed the mesenchymal phenotype and differentiation ability of cultured human adult
bronchial fibroblast-like cells (Br) in comparison with those of mesenchymal cell progenitors …