CILIA – Conditional immortalization of murine alveolar epithelial cells

The blood-air barrier is formed by the alveolar epithelium of the peripheral lung consisting of mainly two cell types. The squamous alveolar epithelial type I cells (ATI) cover up to 97% of the total surface area and hence are responsible for the pulmonary gas exchange. However, alveolar epithelial type II cells (ATII) are cuboidal and undertake various functions including synthesis and secretion of surfactant, proliferative capacity and ion transport. Till date there is no murine cell line available that reflects the crucial barrier properties of primary ATI cells, which are functional tight junctions and as a…