Hyperoxia inhibits alveolar epithelial repair by inhibiting the transdifferentiation of alveolar epithelial type II cells into type I cells

The alveolar epithelium is comprised of type I (ATI) and type II (ATII) cells. ATI cells are incapable of cell division, with epithelial repair achieved by proliferation of ATII cells and transdifferentiation of ATII cells into ATI cells. We have previously shown that hyperoxia inhibits the transdifferentiation of ATII cells in vitro [1]. The objective of these studies was to determine the effect of hyperoxia on the transdifferentiation of ATII cells in vivo.