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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Distinct stem/progenitor cells proliferate to regenerate the trachea, intrapulmonary airways and alveoli in COVID-19 patients

Yinshan Fang¹ , Helu Liu¹ , Huachao Huang¹ , Haiyan Li² , Anjali Saqi³ , Li Qiang³ , Jianwen Que^3,*

¹Center for Human Development and Division of Digestive and Liver Disease, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York 10032 NY, USA
²Department of Pathology, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla 10595 NY, USA
³Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York 10032 NY, USA
* Correspondence: Jianwen Que(jq2240@cumc.columbia.edu)

Dear Editor,

The global pandemic COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected over 6.5 million individuals and claimed over 350,000 lives worldwide within six months. The respiratory epithelial cells covering the airways and alveoli are the major targets of the virus. Moreover, damage to the epithelium can be exacerbated by mechanical ventilation. It is expected that many of the infected individuals that survived the acute phase will develop pulmonary diseases (e.g. fibrosis) if the epithelium fails to regenerate properly.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41422-020-0367-9

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