Molecular Switch Could Unlock Lungs' Self-Healing, Mayo Study Finds

Mayo Clinic researchers uncovered a molecular circuit that decides whether alveolar type 2 (AT2) lung cells repair tissue or defend against infection; a clamp-like regulator, C/EBPα, must be released after injury, with PRC2 and DLK1 timing the switch. The finding explains why infections slow lung healing and suggests regenerative therapies that modulate C/EBPα or reprogram AT2 cells, potentially enabling cell replacement. Published in Nature Communications (2025), the work also points to early-detection biomarkers and ties to Mayo's Precure and Genesis initiatives.