Characterization, localization and comparison of c-Kit+ lung cells in never smokers and smokers with and without COPD

C-Kit + lung stem cells have been described in the human healthy lung. Their potential relation with smoking and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown. The adult human lung contains a mixture of c-Kit+ cells, unlikely to be lung stem cells, which are independent of smoking status and/or presence of COPD.