Regulation of the alveolar regenerative niche by amphiregulin-producing Treg cells (AT2)

This study investigates the role of regulatory T cell–derived Areg in driving epithelial repair following influenza infection. We use RNA sequencing to probe the gene expression changes within epithelial cells in wildtype mice and in mice that conditionally lack Areg from T cell sources (CD4-cre Areg-flox). Further, we identify a population of damage-associated transitional alveolar epithelial cells that are induced in reponse to acute injury and exhibit gene expression changes reflective of AT2 transdifferentiation to AT1. Alveolar epithelial cells were isolated by FACs prior to RNA extraction and RNA sequencing. Wild-type type II alveolar epithelial cells (AT2) isolated from mock treated (PBS) mice and mice treated with PR8/H1N1 influenza at day 7 post infection; n= 4 per group. Intermediate alveolar epihtelial cells isolated at day 5 post infection with PR8/H1N1 influenza from CD4-cre Areg-fl/fl and Areg-fl/fl controls; n=4 per group.