KRT17 and interstitial lung disease: The NHBE consisted largely of cells with basal cell signature, and the majority retained basal cell characteristics, with fractions of them assuming the character of “Proliferating EC,” “Myofibroblast,” and “KRT5-/KRT17+ EC.” Therefore, transcriptional profiles of in vitro–cocultured NHLF and NHBE resemble cell populations that are also enriched in the lungs of patients with ILD.