Regulation of the Alveolar Epithelial Transitional State in Murine and Human Pulmonary Fibrosis. Regulation of the Alveolar Epithelial Transitional State in Murine and Human Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive scarring disease arising from impaired regeneration of the alveolar epithelium after injury. During regeneration, type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2s) differentiate into AEC1s via a transitional state that upregulates keratin 8. In IPF, transitional AECs persist with ineffectual AEC1 differentiation. However, whether keratin 8 regulates transitional state persistence and fibrosis is unclear. Here, we isolated AEC2s from WT or keratin 8 KO mice and harvested RNA from freshly isolated cells or from cells cultured for 1, 3, or 7 days. RNAseq was performed. Overall design: AEC2s were isolated from WT or KO mice. RNA was harvested from freshly isolated cells (Day 0 or D0). Cells were cultured, and RNA was harvested at Day 1, 3, and 7 (D1, D3, D7). This was done 3 times, on 6/17/2021, 7/14/2021, and 8/3/2021, for 3 independent biological replicates. RNAseq was performed.