# Autonomic innervation regulates alveolar formation in development

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2022 · $578,520

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This proposal discovers a novel role of the autonomic nervous system in controlling alveolar formation during
lung development. This finding has opened up a new area of investigation that will increase our mechanistic
understanding of how alveoli are generated. Knowledge from the proposed study has important implications
for treating human lung diseases caused by alveolar immaturity or loss. In this proposal, we will test a model
in which autonomic innervation and activity control alveolar formation. In this process, planar cell polarity
(PCP) signaling regulates neurotransmitter trafficking and release. Neurotransmitters secreted by autonomic
nerves control myofibroblast proliferation and migration, a key step in alveolar formation. Our specific aims
are: (1) To test the hypothesis that autonomic innervation of the lung plays a critical role in alveolar formation;
(2) To test the hypothesis that planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling controls neurotransmitter trafficking and
release at the autonomic nerve terminals in the lung; and (3) To test the hypothesis that autonomic
innervation of myofibroblasts is critical for their function during alveologenesis. Taken together, this
application will uncover a novel mechanism of controlling alveolar formation through autonomic innervation. It
also has the potential to provide new strategies to stimulate alveolar regeneration by promoting lung
reinnervation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10366808
- **Project number:** 1R01HL157446-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** PAO-TIEN CHUANG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $578,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-03-15 → 2026-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10366808

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10366808, Autonomic innervation regulates alveolar formation in development (1R01HL157446-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10366808. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*