tumor-microenvironment
KAC (keratin8+ alveolar intermediate cell), also called the Krt8+ alveolar differentiation intermediate (ADI), is a transient, high-plasticity alveolar epithelial cell state marked by expression of keratin 8, claudin 4, and integrin alpha-2. It normally arises during alveolar injury repair as type II alveolar (AT2) cells transition toward mature type I alveolar (AT1) cells. In oncogene-mutant lung epithelium, cells that pass through or become trapped in this transitional state acquire enhanced tumor-seeding potential and are considered a required intermediate on the path to lung adenocarcinoma.
Source papers
- Plasma signals of lung tumor promotion for molecular cancer prevention doi:10.1016/j.cell.2026.05.005