The elusive pulmonary neuroendocrine cell: How rare diseases may help solving common diseases

Abstract

In this issue of Developmental Cell, Xu et al. (2022) describe a transgenic mouse mimicking neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy, a rare pediatric disease. The mice have excess lung fluid and increased pulmonary neuroendocrine cells with increased endothelium permeability. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is similar, so this rare disease may provide solutions for common diseases.