# Transcriptional and epigenetic basis of lung epithelial cell fate

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2020 · $635,552

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The lung epithelium consists of diverse cell types, as the result of embryonic progenitors undergoing a
series of precise cell fate decisions. Upon injury, a successful repair needs to restore the proper cell
fates. Recapitulation and modulation of in vivo cell fate biology holds promise for cell-based
regeneration therapy. Despite such fundamental importance and our accumulating knowledge of cell
fate regulators, the epigenetic basis of lung cell fate – defined in this proposal as chromatin state and
its relationship to transcription factor binding – is largely unknown, but essential for mechanistic
understanding of cell fate regulators. Combining mouse genetics, genomics of both purified bulk and
single cells, 3D imaging, and human stem cell technology, this proposal will test our central hypothesis
that sequential and combinatorial actions of NKX2-1 and Wnt signaling transcription factors control the
epigenetic maturation and maintenance of lung epithelial cell types in vivo. The proposal has the
following 3 aims. (1) To test whether lung fate maintenance shifts from Wnt-dependent to NKX2-1 self-
reinforcing as the lung matures. (2) To test whether NKX2-1 promotes AT1 versus AT2 cell fate as a
result of recruitment by YAP/TAZ/TEAD versus CEBPA, respectively. (3) To test whether NKX2-1
primes AT2 cells for AT1 differentiation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10030944
- **Project number:** 1R01HL153511-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Jichao Chen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $635,552
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10030944

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10030944, Transcriptional and epigenetic basis of lung epithelial cell fate (1R01HL153511-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10030944. Licensed CC0.

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