posted on 2018-06-27, 00:00authored byQ Chen, VS Kumar, J Finn, DH Jiang, JR Liang, YY Zhao, YR Liu
The alveolar epithelium is composed of type I cells covering most of the gas-blood exchange surface and type II cells secreting surfactant that lowers surface tension of alveoli to prevent alveolar collapse. Here, we have identified a subgroup of type II cells expressing a higher level of cell surface molecule CD44 (CD44(high) type II cells) that composed similar to 3% of total type II cells in 5-10-wk-old mice. These cells were preferentially apposed to lung capillaries. They displayed a higher proliferation rate and augmented differentiation capacity into type I cells and the ability to form alveolar organoids compared with CD44(low) type II cells. Moreover, in aged mice, 18-24 mo old, the percentage of CD44(high) type II cells among all type II cells was increased, but these cells showed decreased progenitor properties. Thus CD44(high) type II cells likely represent a type II cell subpopulation important for constitutive regulation of alveolar homeostasis.