Alveolar epithelial stress-induced polyploidization in lung injury and repair

Cell polyploidization is a conserved, adaptive response to injury, but its overall contribution to lung epithelial homeostasis and repair is unknown. We hypothesize that alveolar epithelial polyploidization is a general feature of lung injury, providing short-term benefit but extracting long-term regenerative cost. By toggling molecular pathways that promote or limit the polyploid state, we can consider therapies that improve alveolar repair after injury.