Fig. 3.

Sftpc mutant expression reprograms AEC2s. (A) Heatmap of selected AEC2-defining genes and markers genes for reprogrammed cell state in RNA-seq from AEC2 isolated 7 d after IP TMX administration to Sftpc^WT and Sftpc^C185G mice. (B) qRT-PCR for AEC2 genes Abca3 and Sftpb in AEC2 isolated 7 d after TMX from Sftpc^WT and Sftpc^C185G lungs. ***p < 0.0005 by two-way t test. (C) Western blotting (Left) and densitometry (Right) of AEC2 cell lysates 7 d after TMX for SP-B shows decrease in mature SP-B (mSP-B) in Sftpc^C185G AEC2s compared with Sftpc^WT. *p < 0.05 by two-way t test. (D) Western blotting (Left) and densitometry (Right) for mSP-B in BALF large-aggregate surfactant fractions showed decreased content in alveolar compartment in Sftpc^C185G mice. *p < 0.05 by two-way t test. (E) qRT-PCR for reprogrammed cell genes Krt8 and Cldn4 in AEC2 cells 7 d after TMX from Sftpc^WT and Sftpc^C185G lungs. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0005 by two-way t test. (F) Representative immunostaining for Krt8 of lung sections at 4 and 7 d after TMX in vehicle and BTZ-treated Sftpc^C185G mice (20× magnification, scale bars = 50 μM). (G) Quantification of Krt8+ cells per high-power field (HPF). *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.0005 by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.