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World J Stem Cells. Sep 26, 2026; 18(9): 125409
Published online Sep 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.125409
Published online Sep 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.125409
Lung organoids for preclinical evaluation of stem cell therapies: Opportunities, evidence, and translational challenges
Lu-Yu Yang, Yuan-Fang Xing, Jia-Yi Chen, Huan Ye, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 101199, China
Lu-Yu Yang, Yuan-Fang Xing, Jia-Yi Chen, Huan Ye, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing 101199, China
Zhi-Min Cao, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
Co-first authors: Lu-Yu Yang and Yuan-Fang Xing.
Author contributions: Yang LY and Xing YF contributed equally to this work and are co-first authors; Cao ZM and Ye H conceptualised and designed the study, supervised, and made critical revisions; Yang LY and Xing YF conducted the literature review and drafted the original manuscript; Chen JY created the artwork; and all authors prepared the draft and approved the submitted version.
AI contribution statement: During the preparation of this manuscript, the authors used an AI assistant for language polishing and spell-checking. After using this tool, the authors reviewed and revised the content as necessary and take full responsibility for the final content of the publication.
Supported by Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation, No. L234007.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Huan Ye, MD, Professor, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Courtyard 1, No. 9 Beiguan Street, Tongzhou District, Beijing 101199, China. yehuan@bjxkyy.cn
Received: July 14, 2026
Revised: August 15, 2026
Accepted: September 22, 2026
Published online: September 26, 2026
Processing time: 80 Days and 12.3 Hours
Revised: August 15, 2026
Accepted: September 22, 2026
Published online: September 26, 2026
Processing time: 80 Days and 12.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Lung organoids are emerging human-relevant ex vivo models that may complement conventional preclinical systems in studying lung disease mechanisms and evaluating selected responses to stem cell-based therapeutic products. Current evidence does not support their use as clinically validated predictors of transplantation outcomes or as independent tools for comprehensive assessment of local safety-related responses. Standardized protocols and prospective studies linking organoid responses with animal and clinical outcomes are needed to establish their translational value.