This invention encompasses methods pharmaceutical compositions and kits which utilize umbilical cord tissue derived cells for modulating (e.g. reducing) the production of pro inflammatory mediators involved in the pathology of a lung disease disorder and/or injury in a patient having the lung disease disorder and/or injury. The invention also encompasses methods pharmaceutical compositions and kits which utilize umbilical cord tissue derived cells for inhibiting the production of pro inflammatory mediators involved in the pathology of a lung disease disorder and/or injury in a patient having the lung disease disorder and/or injury utilizing umbilical cord tissue derived cells. In one embodiment the umbilical cord tissue derived cells are isolated from human umbilical cord tissue substantially free of blood are capable of self renewal and expansion in culture lack the production of CD117 or CD45 and do not express hTERT or telomerase.
