scholarly journals Lung injury induces alveolar type 2 cell hypertrophy and polyploidy with implications for repair and regeneration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthea Weng ◽  
Mariana Maciel-Herrerias ◽  
Satoshi J Watanabe ◽  
Annette S. Flozak ◽  
Lynn Welch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Injury ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Lung Epithelium ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Cell Hypertrophy ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Injury ◽  
Distal Lung

Epithelial polyploidization post-injury is a conserved phenomenon, recently shown to improve barrier restoration during wound healing. Whether lung injury can induce alveolar epithelial polyploidy is not known. We show that bleomycin injury induces AT2 cell hypertrophy and polyploidy. AT2 polyploidization is also seen in short term ex vivo cultures, where AT2-to-AT1 trans-differentiation is associated with substantial binucleation due to failed cytokinesis. Both hypertrophic and polyploid features of AT2 cells can be attenuated by inhibiting the integrated stress response (ISR) using the small molecule ISRIB. These data suggest that AT2 polyploidization may be a feature of alveolar epithelial injury. As AT2 cells serve as facultative progenitors for the distal lung epithelium, a propensity for injury-induced binucleation has implications for AT2 self-renewal and regenerative potential upon re-injury, which may benefit from targeting the ISR.

GATA6 regulates differentiation of distal lung epithelium

Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (9) ◽  
pp. 2233-2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Honghua Yang ◽  
Min Min Lu ◽  
Lili Zhang ◽  
Jeffrey A. Whitsett ◽  
Edward E. Morrisey
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Epithelial Cell ◽  
Surfactant Protein ◽  
Gata Factor ◽  
Lung Epithelium ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Distal Lung ◽  
Transgenic Embryos

GATA6 is a member of the GATA family of zinc-finger transcriptional regulators and is the only known GATA factor expressed in the distal epithelium of the lung during development. To define the role that GATA6 plays during lung epithelial cell development, we expressed a GATA6-Engrailed dominant-negative fusion protein in the distal lung epithelium of transgenic mice. Transgenic embryos lacked detectable alveolar epithelial type 1 cells in the distal airway epithelium. These embryos also exhibited increased Foxp2 gene expression, suggesting a disruption in late alveolar epithelial differentiation. Alveolar epithelial type 2 cells, which are progenitors of alveolar epithelial type 1 cells, were correctly specified as shown by normal thyroid transcription factor 1 and surfactant protein A gene expression. However, attenuated endogenous surfactant protein C expression indicated that alveolar epithelial type 2 cell differentiation was perturbed in transgenic embryos. The number of proximal airway tubules is also reduced in these embryos, suggesting a role for GATA6 in regulating distal-proximal airway development. Finally, a functional role for GATA factor function in alveolar epithelial type 1 cell gene regulation is supported by the ability of GATA6 to trans-activate the mouse aquaporin-5 promoter. Together, these data implicate GATA6 as an important regulator of distal epithelial cell differentiation and proximal airway development in the mouse.

scholarly journals The Promise of Lung Organoids for Growth and Investigation of Pneumocystis Species

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikeya Tisdale-Macioce ◽  
Jenna Green ◽  
Anne-Karina T. Perl ◽  
Alan Ashbaugh ◽  
Nathan P. Wiederhold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Culture System ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial

Pneumocystis species (spp.) are host-obligate fungal parasites that colonize and propagate almost exclusively in the alveolar lumen within the lungs of mammals where they can cause a lethal pneumonia. The emergence of this pneumonia in non-HIV infected persons caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (PjP), illustrates the continued importance of and the need to understand its associated pathologies and to develop new therapies and preventative strategies. In the proposed life cycle, Pneumocystis spp. attach to alveolar type 1 epithelial cells (AEC1) and prevent gas exchange. This process among other mechanisms of Pneumocystis spp. pathogenesis is challenging to observe in real time due to the absence of a continuous ex vivo or in vitro culture system. The study presented here provides a proof-of-concept for the development of murine lung organoids that mimic the lung alveolar sacs expressing alveolar epithelial type 1 cells (AEC1) and alveolar type 2 epithelial cells (AEC2). Use of these 3-dimensional organoids should facilitate studies of a multitude of unanswered questions and serve as an improved means to screen new anti- PjP agents.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Human Lung Alveolar Type 2 Cells Elicits a Rapid Epithelial-Intrinsic Inflammatory Response

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessie Huang ◽  
Adam J. Hume ◽  
Kristine M. Abo ◽  
Rhiannon B. Werder ◽  
Carlos Villacorta-Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Human Lung ◽  
Human Model ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Alveolar Cells ◽  
Protease Inhibition ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Distal Lung

ABSTRACTThe most severe and fatal infections with SARS-CoV-2 result in the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a clinical phenotype of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is associated with virions targeting the epithelium of the distal lung, particularly the facultative progenitors of this tissue, alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AT2s). Little is known about the initial responses of human lung alveoli to SARS-CoV-2 infection due in part to inability to access these cells from patients, particularly at early stages of disease. Here we present an in vitro human model that simulates the initial apical infection of the distal lung epithelium with SARS-CoV-2, using AT2s that have been adapted to air-liquid interface culture after their derivation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iAT2s). We find that SARS-CoV-2 induces a rapid global transcriptomic change in infected iAT2s characterized by a shift to an inflammatory phenotype predominated by the secretion of cytokines encoded by NF-kB target genes, delayed epithelial interferon responses, and rapid loss of the mature lung alveolar epithelial program. Over time, infected iAT2s exhibit cellular toxicity that can result in the death of these key alveolar facultative progenitors, as is observed in vivo in COVID-19 lung autopsies. Importantly, drug testing using iAT2s confirmed an antiviral dose-response to remdesivir and demonstrated the efficacy of TMPRSS2 protease inhibition, validating a putative mechanism used for viral entry in human alveolar cells. Our model system reveals the cell-intrinsic responses of a key lung target cell to infection, providing a physiologically relevant platform for further drug development and facilitating a deeper understanding of COVID-19 pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Failure to Down-Regulate miR-154 Expression in Early Postnatal Mouse Lung Epithelium Suppresses Alveologenesis, with Changes in Tgf-β Signaling Similar to those Induced by Exposure to Hyperoxia

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cho-Ming Chao ◽  
Gianni Carraro ◽  
Zvonimir A. Rako ◽  
Johannes Kolck ◽  
Jamschid Sedighi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Development ◽  
Mouse Lung ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Lung Epithelium ◽  
Downstream Target ◽  
Developmental Program ◽  
The Common ◽  
Distal Lung ◽  
Preterm Born

Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a lung disease of preterm born infants, characterized by alveolar simplification. MicroRNA (miR) are known to be involved in many biological and pathological processes in the lung. Although a changed expression has been described for several miR in BPD, a causal role remains to be established. Results: Our results showed that the expression level of miR-154 increases during lung development and decreases postnatally. Further, hyperoxia treatment maintains high levels of miR-154 in alveolar type 2 cells (AT2). We hypothesized that the decrease in miR-154 expression in AT2 cells is required for normal alveologenesis. To test this hypothesis, we generated a novel transgenic mouse allowing doxycycline-based miR-154 overexpression. Maintenance of miR-154 expression in the postnatal distal lung epithelium under normoxia conditions is sufficient to reproduce the hypoalveologenesis phenotype triggered by hyperoxia. Using a pull-down assay, we identified Caveolin1 as a key downstream target of miR-154. Caveolin1 protein is downregulated in response to overexpression of miR-154. This is associated with increased phosphorylation of Smad3 and Tgf-ß signaling. We found that AT2 cells overexpressing miR-154 display decreased expression of AT2 markers and increased expression of AT1 markers. Conclusion: Our results suggest that down-regulation of miR-154 in postnatal lung may function as an important physiological switch that permits the induction of the correct alveolar developmental program, while conversely, failure to down-regulate miR-154 suppresses alveolarization, leading to the common clinically observed phenotype of alveolar simplification.

scholarly journals The History and Mystery of Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells: Focus on Their Physiologic and Pathologic Role in Lung

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Ruaro ◽  
Francesco Salton ◽  
Luca Braga ◽  
Barbara Wade ◽  
Paola Confalonieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Defense ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Work Of Breathing ◽  
Surfactant Proteins ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Type I ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Lung Protection ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Distal Lung

Alveolar type II (ATII) cells are a key structure of the distal lung epithelium, where they exert their innate immune response and serve as progenitors of alveolar type I (ATI) cells, contributing to alveolar epithelial repair and regeneration. In the healthy lung, ATII cells coordinate the host defense mechanisms, not only generating a restrictive alveolar epithelial barrier, but also orchestrating host defense mechanisms and secreting surfactant proteins, which are important in lung protection against pathogen exposure. Moreover, surfactant proteins help to maintain homeostasis in the distal lung and reduce surface tension at the pulmonary air–liquid interface, thereby preventing atelectasis and reducing the work of breathing. ATII cells may also contribute to the fibroproliferative reaction by secreting growth factors and proinflammatory molecules after damage. Indeed, various acute and chronic diseases are associated with intensive inflammation. These include oedema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, fibrosis and numerous interstitial lung diseases, and are characterized by hyperplastic ATII cells which are considered an essential part of the epithelialization process and, consequently, wound healing. The aim of this review is that of revising the physiologic and pathologic role ATII cells play in pulmonary diseases, as, despite what has been learnt in the last few decades of research, the origin, phenotypic regulation and crosstalk of these cells still remain, in part, a mystery.

scholarly journals Surfactant Protein B Deficiency Induced High Surface Tension: Relationship between Alveolar Micromechanics, Alveolar Fluid Properties and Alveolar Epithelial Cell Injury

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (17) ◽  
pp. 4243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Rühl ◽  
Elena Lopez-Rodriguez ◽  
Karolin Albert ◽  
Bradford J Smith ◽  
Timothy E Weaver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
High Surface ◽  
Surfactant Protein ◽  
Epithelial Injury ◽  
High Surface Tension ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Surfactant Protein B ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Injury

High surface tension at the alveolar air-liquid interface is a typical feature of acute and chronic lung injury. However, the manner in which high surface tension contributes to lung injury is not well understood. This study investigated the relationship between abnormal alveolar micromechanics, alveolar epithelial injury, intra-alveolar fluid properties and remodeling in the conditional surfactant protein B (SP-B) knockout mouse model. Measurements of pulmonary mechanics, broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BAL), and design-based stereology were performed as a function of time of SP-B deficiency. After one day of SP-B deficiency the volume of alveolar fluid V(alvfluid,par) as well as BAL protein and albumin levels were normal while the surface area of injured alveolar epithelium S(AEinjure,sep) was significantly increased. Alveoli and alveolar surface area could be recruited by increasing the air inflation pressure. Quasi-static pressure-volume loops were characterized by an increased hysteresis while the inspiratory capacity was reduced. After 3 days, an increase in V(alvfluid,par) as well as BAL protein and albumin levels were linked with a failure of both alveolar recruitment and airway pressure-dependent redistribution of alveolar fluid. Over time, V(alvfluid,par) increased exponentially with S(AEinjure,sep). In conclusion, high surface tension induces alveolar epithelial injury prior to edema formation. After passing a threshold, epithelial injury results in vascular leakage and exponential accumulation of alveolar fluid critically hampering alveolar recruitability.

scholarly journals Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells Have the Ability to Differentiate into Alveolar Epithelial Cells and Ameliorate Lung Injury Caused by Elastase-Induced Emphysema in Mice

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eriko Fukui ◽  
Soichiro Funaki ◽  
Kenji Kimura ◽  
Toru Momozane ◽  
Atsuomi Kimura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Alveolar Cells ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a leading cause of mortality globally, with no effective therapy yet established. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are useful for ameliorating lung injury in animal models. However, whether ADSCs differentiate into functional cells remains uncertain, and no study has reported on the mechanism by which ADSCs improve lung functionality. Thus, in this study, we examined whether ADSCs differentiate into lung alveolar cells and are able to ameliorate lung injury caused by elastase-induced emphysema in model mice. Here, we induced ADSCs to differentiate into type 2 alveolar epithelial cells in vitro. We demonstrated that ADSCs can differentiate into type 2 alveolar epithelial cells in an elastase-induced emphysematous lung and that ADSCs improve pulmonary function of emphysema model mice, as determined with spirometry and 129Xe MRI. These data revealed a novel function for ADSCs in promoting repair of the damaged lung by direct differentiation into alveolar epithelial cells.

Apoptosis and DNA damage in type 2 alveolar epithelial cells cultured from hyperoxic rats

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (5) ◽  
pp. L714-L720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Buckley ◽  
Lora Barsky ◽  
Barbara Driscoll ◽  
Kenneth Weinberg ◽  
Kathryn D. Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Damage ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Keratinocyte Growth Factor ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Dna Laddering

Apoptosis is a genetically controlled cellular response to developmental stimuli and environmental insult that culminates in cell death. Sublethal hyperoxic injury in rodents is characterized by a complex but reproducible pattern of lung injury and repair during which the alveolar surface is damaged, denuded, and finally repopulated by type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2). Postulating that apoptosis might occur in AEC2 after hyperoxic injury, we looked for the hallmarks of apoptosis in AEC2 from hyperoxic rats. A pattern of increased DNA end labeling, DNA laddering, and induction of p53, p21, and Bax proteins, strongly suggestive of apoptosis, was seen in AEC2 cultured from hyperoxic rats when compared with control AEC2. In contrast, significant apoptosis was not detected in freshly isolated AEC2 from oxygen-treated rats. Thus the basal culture conditions appeared to be insufficient to ensure the ex vivo survival of AEC2 damaged in vivo. The oxygen-induced DNA strand breaks were blocked by the addition of 20 ng/ml of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) to the culture medium from the time of plating and were partly inhibited by Matrigel or a soluble extract of Matrigel. KGF treatment resulted in a partial reduction in the expression of the p21, p53, and Bax proteins but had no effect on DNA laddering. We conclude that sublethal doses of oxygen in vivo cause damage to AEC2, resulting in apoptosis in ex vivo culture, and that KGF can reduce the oxygen-induced DNA damage. We speculate that KGF plays a role as a survival factor in AEC2 by limiting apoptosis in the lung after acute hyperoxic injury.

scholarly journals Fibrinolytic niche is requested for alveolar type 2 cell-mediated alveologenesis and injury repair

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Gibran ◽  
Runzhen Zhao ◽  
Mo Zhang ◽  
Krishan G. Jain ◽  
Jianjun Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alveolar Epithelium ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Alveolar Type ◽  
Differential Rate ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Proliferation And Differentiation ◽  
Marked Suppression

ABSTRACTCOVID-19, SARS, and MERS are featured by fibrinolytic dysfunction. To test the role of the fibrinolytic niche in the regeneration of alveolar epithelium, we compared the self-renewing capacity of alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells and its differentiation to AT1 cells between wild type (wt) and fibrinolytic niche deficient mice (Plau−/− and Serpine1Tg). A significant reduction in both proliferation and differentiation of deficient AT2 cells was observed in vivo and in 3D organoid cultures. This decrease was mainly restored by uPA derived A6 peptide, a binding fragment to CD44 receptors. The proliferative and differential rate of CD44+ AT2 cells was greater than that of CD44− controls. There was a reduction in transepithelial ion transport in deficient monolayers compared to wt cells. Moreover, we found a marked suppression in total AT2 cells and CD44+ subpopulation in lungs from brain dead patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and a mouse model infected by influenza viruses. Thus, we demonstrate that the fibrinolytic niche can regulate AT2-mediated homeostasis and regeneration via a novel uPA-A6-CD44+-ENaC cascade.

Role Of The Type 2 Alveolar Epithelial Cells In An Experimental Model Of Acute Lung Injury

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Garcia-Hernandez ◽  
Ricardo Gutierrez ◽  
Lucio Diaz-Flores ◽  
Jesus Villar ◽  
Francisco Valladares
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lung Injury ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
Experimental Model ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial Cells ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial
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