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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.01.12.632508

Extracellular stiffness regulates site-specific lung development

Liao, Z.·Lv, J.·Wang, D.·Chen, X.·Zhao, J.·Xu, T.·Meng, H.·Liu, H.
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Abstract

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness plays a crucial role in regulating cell fate and maturation, but its influence on lung development is limited known. Here we utilized stiffness-tunable gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels to investigate how ECM stiffness influences site-specific lung development in a stem cell-derived lung organoid model. We found increased stiffness promoted NKX2-1+ lung progenitor cells (LPCs) generation. In airway organoids (hAWOs), stiff hydrogels directed proximal airway differentiation enriched with goblet, ciliated, and basal cells; whereas the decreased stiffness favored emergence of secretory cells in the proximal-distal transition zone and distal airway. In alveolar organoids (hALOs), increased stiffness enhanced AT2 and AT1 cells transition. Moreover, infection assays with Omicron BA.1.1 and Delta variants recapitulated the proximal-to-distal tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in the lung. Transcriptomic sequencing revealed ECM stiffness regulates lung development via Hippo, TGF-{beta}, HIF and Wnt pathways. These findings advance mechanism understanding of ECM stiffness on lung development and provide a novel mechanical regulation for generating site-specific lung organoids.

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Liao, Z., Lv, J., Wang, D., Chen, X., Zhao, J., Xu, T., Meng, H., Liu, H.. 2025-01-13. Extracellular stiffness regulates site-specific lung development. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.12.632508

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