Regulation and role of notch signaling in epithelial progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation in the normal and the fibrotic lung

Introduction: Differenzial regulation of the TGF-ß, Wnt and Notch pathway was recently identified by transcriptome profiling of still normal appearing, microdissected alveolar septae from IPF lungs. The Notch signaling pathway is involved in cell fate decisions, differentiation and proliferation during development, but it may also play a key role in repair processes of the injured lung. Methods: The cellular regulation of the Notch signaling pathway was investigated on mRNA, protein and immunohistochemical level (IPF vs. donor lungs; bleomycin-treated vs. control mice lungs). Proliferation and survival of an AEC…