Autologous Bronchial Basal Cell Transplantation for Treatment of COPD

• Bronchial basal cells (Biological): Transplantation of autologous bronchial basal cells

Primary outcomes

• Indicators for safety [1-6 months]: Measured by blood routine test, urine routine test and blood chemistry panels
• Diffusion capacity of CO (DLCO) [1-6 months]: One of the indicators in pulmonary function test, the extent to which oxygen passes from the air sacs of the lungs into the blood

Secondary outcomes

• The ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first one second to the forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) [1-6 months]: One of the indicators in pulmonary function test, representing the proportion of a person's vital capacity that they are able to expire in the first second of forced expiration to the full vital capacity
• Maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMF) [1-6 months]: One of the indicators in pulmonary function test, standing for maximal (mid-)expiratory flow and is the peak of expiratory flow as taken from the flow-volume curve and measured in liters per second
• Maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) [1-6 months]: One of the indicators in pulmonary function test, measuring the maximum amount of air that can be inhaled and exhaled within one minute
• Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) [1-6 months]: One of the indicators in pulmonary function test, a marker to assess airway obstruction
• 6-minute-walk test (6MWT) [1-6 months]: An indicator to evaluate the exercise function of patients with moderate or severe pulmonary heart diseases
• Modified medical research council (MMRC) chronic dyspnea scale [1-6 months]: An indicator to evaluate the level of dyspnea
• St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) scale [1-6 months]: A questionnaire to assess life quality affected by the respiratory problems
• Imaging of lung by high resolution computed tomography (HR-CT) [1-6 months]: HR-CT images of lung will be analyzed to indicate the pulmonary structure.
• Forced vital capacity (FVC) [1-6 months]: One of the indicators in pulmonary function test, indicating the maximum amount of air a person can expel from the lungs after a maximum inhalation

Sex: All, ages: 40 Years to 75 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged between 40 to 75;
* Diagnosed with COPD according the guideline (a. with symptoms of productive cough, sputum production or shortness of breath; b. with poor airflow as indicated by FEV1<70% predicted value and FEV1/FVC < 0.7 in pulmonary function test; c. with exclusion of other pulmonary disease by CT or blood examination.);
* Current smoker or ex-smoker with a history of no less than 10 years or 10 packs/year;
* Tolerant to bronchofiberscope;
* Written informed consent signed.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant or lactating women;
* Patients positive for syphilis, HIV;
* Patients with malignant tumor;
* Patients with serious significant pulmonary infection and need anti-infection treatment;
* Patients with serious heart disease(NYHA class Ⅲ-Ⅳ);
* Patients with a history of abusing alcohol and illicit drug;
* Patients participated in other clinical trials in the past 3 months;
* Patients assessed as inappropriate to participate in this clinical trial by investigator.

• Results publication: Zuo W, Zhang T, Wu DZ, Guan SP, Liew AA, Yamamoto Y, Wang X, Lim SJ, Vincent M, Lessard M, Crum CP, Xian W, McKeon F. p63(+)Krt5(+) distal airway stem cells are essential for lung regeneration. Nature. 2015 Jan 29;517(7536):616-20. doi: 10.1038/nature13903. Epub 2014 Nov 12. PMID 25383540