Evaluation of the impact of genetically suppression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in aged vs young type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AT2).

Using somatic genetic approaches, we aim for investigating the role of DNMT1 suppression in the regulation of transcriptom of young AT2 cells, in comparing with the effect of aging. Aged (> 2 years old) and young (12-16 weeks old) Rosa26-mTmG mice were infected by either control shRNA (Ren713) or shRNAs targeting DNMT1. Due to the Cre recombinase, cells bearing shRNAs were turned green (GFP positive). Eleven days post-infection, lungs were harvested and GFP+ epithelial cells or other cells were collected for scRNA-Seq.