Project description:The human lung differs substantially from its murine counterpart, resulting in a distinct distal airway architecture affected by disease pathology in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In humans, the distal branches of the airway interweave with the alveolar gas exchange niche, forming an anatomical structure known as the respiratory airways. Due to the lack of a murine counterpart, the cellular and molecular characterization of the respiratory airways in the human lung remains an enigma. We show that human respiratory airways contain a unique secretory cell population that is distinct from cells in larger proximal airways. Stem cell modeling reveal that these respiratory airway secretory cells (RASCs) act as unidirectional progenitors for alveolar type 2 cells, which are essential for maintaining and regenerating the alveolar niche. RASC lineage differentiation into AT2 cells is regulated, in part, by Notch signaling. In COPD, RASCs are altered transcriptionally, corresponding to abnormal AT2 cell states. These data identify a distinct progenitor in a region of the human lung not found in mouse that plays a critical role in maintaining the gas exchange compartment and is altered in chronic lung disease.
Project description:Pulmonary alveoli are complex architectural units thought to undergo endogenous or pharmacologically induced programs of regeneration and degeneration. To study the molecular mechanism of alveoli loss mice were calorie restricted at different timepoints. Lungs were harvested and processed for RNA extraction. Keywords: other
Project description:Pulmonary alveoli are complex architectural units thought to undergo endogenous or pharmacologically induced programs of regeneration and degeneration. To study the molecular mechanism of alveoli loss mice were calorie restricted at different timepoints. Lungs were harvested and processed for RNA extraction.
Project description:It has been shown that dexamethasone (Dex) impairs the normal lung septation that occurs in the early postnatal period. Treatment with retinoic acid (ATRA) abrogates the effects of Dex. To understand the molecular basis for the Dex indiced inhibition of the formation of the alveoli and the ability of ATRA to prevent the inhibition of septation, gene expression was analyzed in 4-day old mice treated with diluent (control), Dex-treated and ATRA+Dex-treated. Keywords: other