Autonomic innervation regulates alveolar formation in development

项目总结/摘要 这一建议发现了自主神经系统在控制肺泡形成过程中的新作用。 肺发育这一发现开辟了一个新的研究领域，将增加我们的机制， 了解肺泡是如何产生的。从拟议的研究中获得的知识具有重要意义 用于治疗由肺泡不成熟或缺失引起的人肺部疾病。在本提案中，我们将测试一个模型， 其中自主神经支配和活动控制肺泡形成。在这个过程中，平面细胞极性 (PCP)信号传导调节神经递质的运输和释放。自主神经分泌的神经递质 神经控制肌成纤维细胞增殖和迁移，这是肺泡形成的关键步骤。我们的具体目标 （1）验证肺自主神经支配在肺泡形成中的重要作用; (2)为了验证平面细胞极性（PCP）信号控制神经递质运输的假设， 在肺的自主神经末梢释放;和（3）为了检验自主神经 肌成纤维细胞的神经支配对于它们在肺泡发生期间的功能是关键的。总的来说，这 应用将揭示通过自主神经支配控制肺泡形成的新机制。它 也有可能提供新的策略，以刺激肺泡再生，促进肺 神经再生

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.