# Genetic Basis of Normal and Pathological Alveologenesis in Lung Development

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $464,366

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Alveologenesis is the last step of lung maturation and generates ~95% of the gas-
exchange surface area through formation of new septa. Disruption of alveologenesis,
such as in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), leads to simplified alveoli, poor gas
exchange and other respiratory deficiencies later in life. Myofibroblasts represents a key
cell type in alveologenesis. In conventional two-dimensional analysis, myofibroblasts are
depicted as dots at the tip of the finger-like septal crest, and are postulated to drive new
septa formation by migrating into the lumen. We have found from three-dimensional
analysis, that myofibroblasts are interconnected into rings, and rings are interconnected
into nets. We postulate that it is the tensile property of this network of myofibroblasts that
drive new septa formation. In mouse models of human lung development and disease,
we will use genetic tools to investigate the role of myofibroblasts in normal
alveologenesis, in alveolar simplification in BPD, and in regeneration of new septa after
premature birth and BPD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10201730
- **Project number:** 5R01HL142215-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Xin Sun
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $464,366
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-22 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10201730

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10201730, Genetic Basis of Normal and Pathological Alveologenesis in Lung Development (5R01HL142215-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10201730. Licensed CC0.

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