RNA-seq analysis of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), bronchial smooth muscle cells(BSMCs) and venous SMCs in the lung

Information about the differences among arterial, venous, and bronchial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the lung is particularly valuable, as these distinct SMC populations are differentially affected in pulmonary diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). To directly compare these SMC subtypes, we employed a combination of genetic tools and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) isolation strategies.We generated an ASMC-effector mouse line by combining Cspg4/Acta2 intersectional genetics, enabling specific targeting of vascular SMCs, including pulmonary arterial SMCs (PASMCs).

To target non-vascular SMCs, including bronchial SMCs (BSMCs), we generated the NVSMC-effector mouse line using Chrm2/Acta2 intersectional genetics. As no driver specific to venous vascular SMCs (VVSMCs) is currently available, we used the transgenic reporter line [Tg(Acta2-GFP)], which labels all pulmonary SMCs, including venous SMCs.