Identifying a proliferating repairman for tissue in damaged lungs

By: Erica Moser Date: Dec 10, 2024

Human Lungs — (Image: iStock/Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen)

Veins in the lungs, or pulmonary veins, play a critical role not only in lung functioning but also in maintaining sufficient oxygen in tissue throughout the body. When a person sustains pulmonary injury from an illness like influenza or COVID, repair of blood vessels and the creation of new ones is vital to meet oxygen demands; however, research in these areas remains underexplored.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and Vanderbilt University Medical Center have been studying the role of pulmonary venous endothelial cells (VECs) in endothelial regeneration after adult lung injury. VECs line the inside of blood vessels in the lungs, playing an essential role in blood flow and angiogenesis, the creation of new blood vessels.

Their new paper shows that venous endothelial cells can help fix damaged blood vessels in the lungs. The researchers found that following influenza, COVID, and hyperoxia injury, VECs proliferate into the adjacent capillary bed—a network of blood vessels facilitating gas exchange—and contribute to its regeneration.

They also show that VECs differentiate into capillary cells, and that this remodeling is a response to lung injury, not one that occurs during normal lung development after birth. Their findings are published in Nature Cardiovascular Research.

“A lot of patients who encounter respiratory viruses, especially if they’re immunocompromised, can develop something called acute respiratory distress and end up in the intensive care unit,” says first author Joanna Wong, a doctoral student in the lab of Andrew E. Vaughan at Penn Vet. “Trying to figure out ways to promote the regeneration of their vascular bed or lungs in general would advance modern medicine and patient care.”

About Penn Vet

Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 34,600 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,200 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 18,700 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.