FGF10 signaling in distal/alveolar epithelial progenitor cells - role in lung fibrosis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Saverio Bellusci
• Subject Area: Pneumology, Thoracic Surgery
• Term: from 2009 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 161184405

This grant application is based on our preliminary data recently accepted for publication since the previous submission (Gupte et al., 2009) indicating that Fibroblast growth factor 10 (Fgf10) overexpression in the lung during the inflammatory or fibrotic phase leads to fibrosis attenuation in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced fibrosis. The Central hypothesis that will be tested is: FGF10 controls the proliferation and differentiation of the pulmonary epithelial progenitor cells during the repair process, thereby affecting lung fibroproliferative processes. Three Aims are proposed: Aim 1: To determine the role of FGF10 during repair after injury in a model of inflammation-driven pulmonary fibrosis Aim 2: To determine the capability of FGF10 to reverse fibroproliferative events in a non- inflammatory lung fibrosis model Aim 3: To determine whether endogenous FGFR2b signaling is required for the repair process leading to attenuation of fibrosis in mice.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants