Abstract
Revealing the origins of alveolar epithelial stem cells is crucial for preventing and treating lung diseases. Here, we present a protocol for tracing alveolar type I (AT1) cells from mice in vivo using two distinct dual recombinase-mediated systems. We describe steps for model establishment, harvesting tissue, cryosection, immunofluorescence staining, and confocal imaging. We then detail procedures for analysis of image files and quantification. This protocol provides a foundation for elucidating the plasticity of AT1 cell fate during homeostasis and diseases. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Liu et al.1.
Keywords:
Cell Biology; Developmental biology; Genetics; Stem Cells.