Alveolar Stem Cells

Study finds alveolar stem cells help repair damaged airways, not just gas-exchange cells

Researchers report that alveolar stem cells, previously known mainly for producing gas-exchange cells in the lungs, also play a role in repairing damaged airway tissue. The finding expands the understood function of these cells beyond their traditional role in the alveoli.

nature.com · 2026-10-14

Study finds lung alveolar stem cells can convert to repair airway tissue

Researchers using multiple genetically engineered mouse lines found that alveolar type 2 stem cells, normally responsible for regenerating lung air sacs, can transdifferentiate into cells that regenerate the bronchiolar airways after injury. The team used lineage-tracing and gene-deletion techniques in mice to track this cell-fate switch and identify the Notch signaling pathway as a key regulator of the process.

nature.com · 2026-10-07