Synchronized mesenchymal cell polarization and differentiation shape the formation of the murine trachea and esophagus

Abstract

Tracheal development arises due to tube morphogenesis but how this is regulated is unclear. Here, the authors identify polarization of smooth muscle progenitors as controlling murine tracheal development, activating noncanonical Wnt signaling followed by subepithelial morphogenesis and ring cartilage development.