Novel Populations of Lung Capillary Endothelial Cells and Their Functional Significance (PRJCA047802)
This BioProject presents single-cell RNA sequencing data profiling lung endothelial cells to uncover the molecular heterogeneity of capillary subtypes. Building upon previous discoveries of aerocytes and general capillary endothelial cells, this study identifies five novel gCap populations with distinct transcriptional signatures and zonation patterns. Notably, we characterize two transitional populations expressing Scn7a and Clic4, a mitotically active Flot1-pos-root population responsible for regeneration, and a Lingo2-pos venous-capillary subtype. A metabolically active, angiogenesis-associated Fabp4-pos population was also defined. Hypoxia and developmental time-course models further reveal dynamic shifts in progenitor and regenerative states. These findings provide critical insights into capillary specialization, regeneration, and vascular remodeling, with implications for understanding lung disease pathogenesis.