@article{5d104039bad745c9b459d1e40692bf51,
title = "A functional circuit formed by the autonomic nerves and myofibroblasts controls mammalian alveolar formation for gas exchange",
abstract = "Alveolar formation increases the surface area for gas exchange. A molecular understanding of alveologenesis remains incomplete. Here, we show that the autonomic nerve and alveolar myofibroblast form a functional unit in mice. Myofibroblasts secrete neurotrophins to promote neurite extension/survival, whereas neurotransmitters released from autonomic terminals are necessary for myofibroblast proliferation and migration, a key step in alveologenesis. This establishes a functional link between autonomic innervation and alveolar formation. We also discover that planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling employs a Wnt-Fz/Ror-Vangl cascade to regulate the cytoskeleton and neurotransmitter trafficking/release from the terminals of autonomic nerves. This represents a new aspect of PCP signaling in conferring cellular properties. Together, these studies offer molecular insight into how autonomic activity controls alveolar formation. Our work also illustrates the fundamental principle of how two tissues (e.g., nerves and lungs) interact to build alveoli at the organismal level.",
keywords = "alveolar formation, autonomic nerves, chronic obstructive lung disease, contraction/migration, gas exchange, myofibroblasts, neurotransmitters, neurotrophins, planar cell polarity signaling, proliferation",
author = "Kuan Zhang and Erica Yao and Wang, {Shao An} and Ethan Chuang and Julia Wong and Liliana Minichiello and Andrew Schroeder and Walter Eckalbar and Wolters, {Paul J.} and Chuang, {Pao Tien}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Evelyn Chuang for figure preparation and Allan Basbaum, Andy Chang, and Ross Metzger for critical reading of the manuscript. Some data for this study were acquired at the Nikon Imaging Center at CVRI and the UCSF Laboratory for Cell Analysis. This work was supported by grants ( R01 HL142876 ) from the National Institutes of Health to P.-T.C. Funding Information: We thank Evelyn Chuang for figure preparation and Allan Basbaum, Andy Chang, and Ross Metzger for critical reading of the manuscript. Some data for this study were acquired at the Nikon Imaging Center at CVRI and the UCSF Laboratory for Cell Analysis. This work was supported by grants (R01 HL142876) from the National Institutes of Health to P.-T.C. K.Z. and P.-T.C designed the study. K.Z. E.Y. S.-A.W. E.C. and J.W. performed the experiments. K.Z. E.Y. S.-A.W. E.C. J.W. A.S. and W.E. analyzed the data. P.J.W. provided human lung tissues and L.M. provided Ngff mice. K.Z. E.Y. and P.-T.C. wrote the manuscript. P.-T.C. supervised the research. The authors declare no competing interests. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier Inc.",
year = "2022",
month = jul,
day = "11",
doi = "10.1016/j.devcel.2022.05.021",
language = "English",
volume = "57",
pages = "1566--1581.e7",
journal = "Developmental Cell",
issn = "1534-5807",
publisher = "Cell Press",
number = "13",
}