C-KIT+FOXF1+ EPCs are highly sensitive to increased levels of oxygen (hyperoxia) (Ren et al., 2019) and are shown to be decreased in premature infants which develop BPD as well as in hyperoxia-induced BPD mouse models (Borghesi et al., 2009; Fujinaga et al., 2009). Here, KIT is linked to bronchopulmonary dysplasia.