Acute lung injury(ALI)and acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) are major causes of acute respiratory failure in critically ill patients, which are characterized by disruption of the lung alveolar–capillary membrane barrier. However, the methods of treatment are restricted to the supporting of organs’ function. Recent studies have demonstrated that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)or endothelial progenitor cells(EPC) have been exploited as ideal stem cells to repair lung injury. Treatment with MSC/EPC would have potentially beneficial effects by modulating pulmonary vascular permeability and alveolar inflammation response, improving alveolar ability of antioxygen and vascular function of pulmonary artery . This article will review the development of treatment of MSC/EPC in ALI/ARDS.