Developmental diversity and unique sensitivity to injury of lung endothelial subtypes during a period of rapid postnatal growth

Abstract

At birth, the lung is still immature, heightening susceptibility to injury but enhancing regenerative capacity. Angiogenesis drives postnatal lung development. Therefore, we profiled the transcriptional ontogeny and sensitivity to injury of pulmonary endothelial cells (EC) during early postnatal life. Although subtype speciation was evident at birth, immature lung EC exhibited transcriptomes distinct from mature counterparts, which progressed dynamically over time. Gradual, temporal changes in aerocyte capillary EC (CAP2), contrasted with more marked alterations in general capillary EC (CAP1) phenotype, including distinct CAP1 present only in the early alveolar lung expressing Peg3, a paternally imprinted transcription factor. Hyperoxia, an injury which impairs angiogenesis, induced both common and unique endothelial gene signatures, dysregulated capillary EC cross-talk, and suppressed CAP1 proliferation while stimulating venous EC proliferation. These data highlight the diversity, transcriptomic evolution, and pleiotropic responses to injury of immature lung EC, possessing broad implications for lung development and injury across the lifespan.