Lung tissue engineering for tissue regeneration research
Bartis1, D., Csöngei1, V., Barkó 2, S., Jakab3, L., Balasa1, T., Miskei1, G., Berta4, G.,
Varecza1, Z., Kvell1, K., Nyitrai2, M., László5, T., Molnár3, T.F., and Pongrácz1, J.E.
Department of Medical Biotechnology1, Department of Biophysics2, Department of
Surgery3, Department of Medical Biology4, Department of Pathology5 University of
Pécs, Hungary
Progenitors that are vitally important for airway repair of alveolar type I (ATI)
cells -the primary gas-exchange surface of the alveoli- are cells designated as
alveolar type II (ATII) which can flexibly turn into ATI cells on physiological
demand. Still, the factors that can trigger such interchanges are largely
unknown. Partly, as the microenvironment of the human distal airways is hard
to recreate in vitro and ATII cells removed from pulmonary tissues and placed
into conventional cell cultures loose their ATII type characteristics and
respond differently to stimuli. Using an easily manipulated three dimensional
(3D) primary human pulmonary micro-tissue model that was developed in our
laboratory, we provide the first evidence that Wnt11 is one of the main
regulators of ATII type differentiation which knowledge forecasts therapies for
distal airway injuries.