Dedifferentiated early postnatal lung myofibroblasts redifferentiate in adult disease.

ABSTRACT: Alveolarization ensures sufficient lung surface area for gas exchange, and during bulk alveolarization in mice (postnatal day [P] 4.5-14.5), alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)⁺ myofibroblasts accumulate, secrete elastin, and lay down alveolar septum. Herein, we delineate the dynamics of the lineage of early postnatal SMA⁺ myofibroblasts during and after bulk alveolarization and in response to lung injury. SMA⁺ lung myofibroblasts first appear at ∼ P2.5 and proliferate robustly. Lineage tracing shows that, at P14.5 and over the next few days, the vast majority of SMA⁺ myofibroblasts downregulate smooth muscle cell markers and undergo apoptosis. Of note, ∼8% of these dedifferentiated cells and another ∼1% of SMA⁺ myofibroblasts persist to a

SUBMITTER: Chandran RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10987733 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature