Scientists have discovered that stem cells responsible for maintaining the lung’s tiny air sacs can change identity to repair damaged airways. In a study published in Nature, researchers tracked alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells in mice and found that some migrated into injured airways, transforming into mature club cells and ciliated cells. In one experiment, AT2 cells contributed approximately 52% of regenerated club cells after four weeks. The team also identified a molecular signal, SPP1, released by immune cells that helps guide these stem cells toward damaged tissue. The findings reveal unexpected flexibility in lung repair and could inform future regenerative treatments for airway diseases.
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