This invention encompasses methods, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits 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 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. 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.
