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An injury-induced mesenchymal-epithelial cell niche coordinates regenerative responses in the lung
Journal article   Peer reviewed

An injury-induced mesenchymal-epithelial cell niche coordinates regenerative responses in the lung

Dakota L Jones, Michael P Morley, Xinyuan Li, Yun Ying, Gan Zhao, Sarah E Schaefer, Luis R Rodriguez, Fabian L Cardenas-Diaz, Shanru Li, Su Zhou, …
Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.386(6727), p.eado5561
12/13/2024
DOI: 10.1126/science.ado5561
PMCID: PMC13159043
PMID: 39666855

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Abstract

Severe lung injury causes airway basal stem cells to migrate and outcompete alveolar stem cells, resulting in dysplastic repair. We found that this "stem cell collision" generates an injury-induced tissue niche containing keratin 5 epithelial cells and plastic Pdgfra mesenchymal cells. Single-cell analysis revealed that the injury-induced niche is governed by mesenchymal proliferation and Notch signaling, which suppressed Wnt/Fgf signaling in the injured niche. Conversely, loss of Notch signaling rewired alveolar signaling patterns to promote functional regeneration and gas exchange. Signaling patterns in injury-induced niches can differentiate fibrotic from degenerative human lung diseases through altering the direction of Wnt/Fgf signaling. Thus, we have identified an injury-induced niche in the lung with the ability to discriminate human lung disease phenotypes.
Alveolar Epithelial Cells - metabolism Animals Cell Proliferation Epithelial Cells Humans Keratin-5 - genetics Keratin-5 - metabolism Lung - physiology Lung Injury - etiology Mesenchymal Stem Cells - physiology Mice Pulmonary Alveoli - cytology Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha - genetics Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha - metabolism Receptors, Notch - metabolism Regeneration Signal Transduction Single-Cell Analysis Stem Cell Niche - physiology Wnt Signaling Pathway

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