To enhance the relevance of our findings with respect to the regenerative effects of COPD- and non-COPD-derived LMSCs, the organoid forming potential of COPD-derived epithelial progenitors from distal lung tissue was studied using the design as depicted in Figure 6A. EpCAM+ sorted cells were able to form spheres when using MRC-5 cells as supporting cells (Figure 6B,C). The gene discussed is EPCAM; the disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.