Tenascin-C deficiency impairs alveolarization and microvascular maturation during postnatal lung development

Abstract

Previously, we showed that the extracellular matrix protein tenascin-C takes part in prenatal lung development by controlling branching morphogenesis. Now we report that tenascin-C is also important during postnatal lung development, because tenascin-C deficiency delays the formation and maturation of the alveolar septa during not only classical but also continued alveolarization. Adult lungs are indistinguishable from wild type because of a catch-up formation of new septa.