title: Matrix-driven pneumocyte differentiation.
abstract: This commentary presents evidence in support of a hypothesis that adult mammalian alveolar epithelial basement membrane possesses functional and structural domains that determine sites at which type I and type II cells localize. The hypothesis provides a framework for understanding how, after normal repair of the epithelium, a constant ratio of type I and type II cells, and the localization of the cell types is maintained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lwebuga-Mukasa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology*