Development of stem cell derived type alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2s) for pulmonary fibrosis modeling

AEC2s are putatively major cells in development of lung diseases like Idiopathic Pulmonary Disease (IPF). For studying IPF-related phenotypes of AEC2s, We used differentiated AEC2s (diff-AEC2s) with some merits compared to conventional in vitro alveolar cells and bleomycin as a pulmonary fibrosis-inducing agent. With bleomycin treatment for 24 hr, some fibrotic phenotypes, senescent and transtional markers like Ctgf, Lgals3, and Krt8 were elevated with dose-dependent manner in RNA and protein expression. Also, up-regulation of P53 pathway and some irregular cell cycle expreesion were identified with bleomycin treatment. RNA profiling for bleomycin-treated diff-AEC2 to figure out expression of fibrosis-related phenotype in AEC2s.