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Updated: May 2, 2026

Development of a Neonatal Piglet Acute Lung Injury Model Recreating the Early Environment of Preterm Infant Lungs
Published on: October 31, 2025
Altered lung development in bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Alice Hadchouel1, Marie-Laure Franco-Montoya, Christophe Delacourt
1INSERM, U955, IMRB, Equipe 04, Créteil, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, service de Pneumologie Pédiatrique, Centre de Référence pour les Maladies Respiratoires Rares de l'Enfant, Paris, France; Université Paris-Descartes, Paris, France.
Insights
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a complex lung disease in premature infants. This review explores the molecular pathways and genetic factors contributing to impaired alveolar growth in BPD.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the primary respiratory complication in extremely premature infants.
- Its complex pathophysiology involves host-environment interactions and genetic influences.
- BPD's clinical and histological features have evolved with improved neonatal care and the management of more immature infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the key molecular pathways involved in the development of Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
- To highlight the role of genetic factors and evolving understanding of BPD pathogenesis.
- To discuss insights gained from animal models, genetic studies, and functional respiratory assessments.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on molecular pathways in BPD.
- Analysis of genetic approaches and their contribution to understanding BPD.
- Inclusion of data from animal models and long-term respiratory functional studies.
Main Results:
- Impaired alveolar growth is a consistent and key feature of BPD, particularly in newer forms.
- Molecular pathways are increasingly identified as crucial in BPD genesis.
- Genetic factors significantly influence the complex pathophysiology of BPD.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the molecular basis of BPD is critical for developing targeted therapies.
- Genetic predisposition plays a significant role in BPD development.
- Continued research integrating molecular, genetic, and functional data is essential for advancing BPD care.
Abstract:
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the main respiratory sequela of extreme prematurity. Its pathophysiology is complex, involving interactions between host and environment, likely to be significantly influenced by genetic factors. Thus, the clinical presentation and histological lesions have evolved over time, along with the reduction in neonatal injuries, and the care of more immature children. Impaired alveolar growth, however, is a lesion consistently observed in BPD, such that it is a key feature in BPD, and is even the dominant characteristic of the so-called "new" forms of BPD. This review describes the key molecular pathways that are believed to be involved in the genesis of BPD. Much of our understanding is based on animal models, but this is increasingly being enriched by genetic approaches, and long-term respiratory functional studies.
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