Marnix R. Jonker

The paper identifies a novel asthma-associated epithelial differentiation trajectory involving KRT14+ basal cells and hillock-like cells that contributes to airway inflammation and remodelling in childhood-onset asthma.

The paper shows that in IPF lungs, COL6 gene expression is higher but protein levels and synthesis around airways and vessels are lower, suggesting disrupted matrix organization and fibroblast persistence.

RNA sequencing in bronchial biopsies from wheezing infants and children < 2 years shows evidence for an airway epithelial hillock-to-squamous differentiation pathway that marks the development of asthma.