Essential role for cathepsin D in bleomycin-induced apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (1) ◽  
pp. L46-L51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopeng Li ◽  
Heather Rayford ◽  
Ruijie Shu ◽  
Jiaju Zhuang ◽  
Bruce D. Uhal

Our earlier studies showed that bleomycin-induced apoptosis of type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) requires the autocrine synthesis and proteolytic processing of angiotensinogen into ANG II and that inhibitors of ANG-converting enzyme (ACEis) block bleomycin-induced apoptosis (Li X, Zhang H, Soledad-Conrad V, Zhuang J, and Uhal BD. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 284: L501–L507, 2003). Given the documented role of cathepsin D (CatD) in apoptosis of other cell types, we hypothesized that CatD might be the AEC enzyme responsible for the conversion of angiotensinogen into ANG I, the substrate for ACE. Primary cultures of rat type II AECs challenged with bleomycin in vitro showed upregulation and secretion of CatD enzymatic activity and immunoreactive protein but no increases in CatD mRNA. The aspartyl protease inhibitor pepstatin A, which completely blocked CatD enzymatic activity, inhibited bleomycin-induced nuclear fragmentation by 76% and reduced bleomycin-induced caspase-3 activation by 47%. Antisense oligonucleotides against CatD mRNA reduced CatD-immunoreactive protein and inhibited bleomycin-induced nuclear fragmentation by 48%. A purified fragment of angiotensinogen (F1–14) containing the CatD and ACE cleavage sites, when applied to unchallenged AEC in vitro, yielded mature ANG II peptide and induced apoptosis. The apoptosis induced by F1–14 was inhibited 96% by pepstatin A and 77% by neutralizing antibodies specific for CatD (both P < 0.001). These data indicate a critical role for CatD in bleomycin-induced apoptosis of cultured AEC and suggest that the role(s) of CatD in AEC apoptosis include the conversion of newly synthesized angiotensinogen to ANG II.

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (1) ◽  
pp. L104-L110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Fang ◽  
Yuanlin Song ◽  
Rachel Zemans ◽  
Jan Hirsch ◽  
Michael A. Matthay

Previous studies have used fluid-instilled lungs to measure net alveolar fluid transport in intact animal and human lungs. However, intact lung studies have two limitations: the contribution of different distal lung epithelial cells cannot be studied separately, and the surface area for fluid absorption can only be approximated. Therefore, we developed a method to measure net vectorial fluid transport in cultured rat alveolar type II cells using an air-liquid interface. The cells were seeded on 0.4-μm microporous inserts in a Transwell system. At 96 h, the transmembrane electrical resistance reached a peak level (1,530 ± 115 Ω·cm2) with morphological evidence of tight junctions. We measured net fluid transport by placing 150 μl of culture medium containing 0.5 μCi of 131I-albumin on the apical side of the polarized cells. Protein permeability across the cell monolayer, as measured by labeled albumin, was 1.17 ± 0.34% over 24 h. The change in concentration of 131I-albumin in the apical fluid was used to determine the net fluid transported across the monolayer over 12 and 24 h. The net basal fluid transport was 0.84 μl·cm−2·h−1. cAMP stimulation with forskolin and IBMX increased fluid transport by 96%. Amiloride inhibited both the basal and stimulated fluid transport. Ouabain inhibited basal fluid transport by 93%. The cultured cells retained alveolar type II-like features based on morphologic studies, including ultrastructural imaging. In conclusion, this novel in vitro system can be used to measure net vectorial fluid transport across cultured, polarized alveolar epithelial cells.


1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (1) ◽  
pp. L127-L135 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. W. Barton ◽  
S. Wilcoxen ◽  
P. J. Christensen ◽  
R. Paine

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is expressed at high levels on type I alveolar epithelial cells in the normal lung and is induced in vitro as type II cells spread in primary culture. In contrast, in most nonhematopoetic cells ICAM-1 expression is induced in response to inflammatory cytokines. We have formed the hypothesis that the signals that control ICAM-1 expression in alveolar epithelial cells are fundamentally different from those controlling expression in most other cells. To test this hypothesis, we have investigated the influence of inflammatory cytokines on ICAM-1 expression in isolated type II cells that have spread in culture and compared this response to that of rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAEC). ICAM-1 protein, determined both by a cell-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by Western blot analysis, and mRNA were minimally expressed in unstimulated RPAEC but were significantly induced in a time- and dose-dependent manner by treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, or interferon-gamma. In contrast, these cytokines did not influence the constitutive high level ICAM-1 protein expression in alveolar epithelial cells and only minimally affected steady-state mRNA levels. ICAM-1 mRNA half-life, measured in the presence of actinomycin D, was relatively long at 7 h in alveolar epithelial cells and 4 h in RPAEC. The striking lack of response of ICAM-1 expression by alveolar epithelial cells to inflammatory cytokines is in contrast to virtually all other epithelial cells studied to date and supports the hypothesis that ICAM-1 expression by these cells is a function of cellular differentiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (6) ◽  
pp. L1158-L1164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongi Wang ◽  
Carlos Ramos ◽  
Iravati Joshi ◽  
Alex Zagariya ◽  
Annie Pardo ◽  
...  

Earlier work from this laboratory found that fibroblasts isolated from fibrotic human lung [human interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (HIPF)] secrete a soluble inducer(s) of apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) in vitro [B. D. Uhal, I. Joshi, A. True, S. Mundle, A. Raza, A. Pardo, and M. Selman. Am. J. Physiol. 269 ( Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 13): L819–L828, 1995]. The cultured human fibroblast strains most active in producing the apoptotic activity contained high numbers of stellate cells expressing α-smooth muscle actin, a myofibroblast marker. The apoptotic activity eluted from gel-filtration columns only in fractions corresponding to proteins. Western blotting of the protein fraction identified immunoreactive angiotensinogen (ANGEN), and two-step RT-PCR revealed expression of ANGEN by HIPF fibroblasts but not by normal human lung fibroblasts. Specific ELISA detected angiotensin II (ANG II) at concentrations sixfold higher in HIPF-conditioned medium than in normal fibroblast-conditioned medium. Pretreatment of the concentrated medium with purified renin plus purified angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) further increased the ELISA-detectable ANG II eightfold. Apoptosis of AECs in response to HIPF-conditioned medium was completely abrogated by the ANG II receptor antagonist saralasin (50 μg/ml) or anti-ANG II antibodies. These results identify the protein inducers of AEC apoptosis produced by HIPF fibroblasts as ANGEN and its derivative ANG II. They also suggest a mechanism for AEC death adjacent to HIPF myofibroblasts [B. D. Uhal,, I. Joshi, C. Ramos, A. Pardo, and M. Selman. Am. J. Physiol. 275 ( Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol. 19): L1192–L1199, 1998].


2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (1) ◽  
pp. L33-L41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce D. Uhal ◽  
Hang Nguyen ◽  
MyTrang Dang ◽  
Indiwari Gopallawa ◽  
Jing Jiang ◽  
...  

Earlier work showed that apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) in response to endogenous or xenobiotic factors is regulated by autocrine generation of angiotensin (ANG) II and its counterregulatory peptide ANG1–7. Mutations in surfactant protein C (SP-C) induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in AECs and cause lung fibrosis. This study tested the hypothesis that ER stress-induced apoptosis of AECs might also be regulated by the autocrine ANGII/ANG1–7 system of AECs. ER stress was induced in A549 cells or primary cultures of human AECs with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 or the SP-C BRICHOS domain mutant G100S. ER stress activated the ANGII-generating enzyme cathepsin D and simultaneously decreased the ANGII-degrading enzyme ACE-2, which normally generates the antiapoptotic peptide ANG1–7. TAPI-2, an inhibitor of ADAM17/TACE, significantly reduced both the activation of cathepsin D and the loss of ACE-2. Apoptosis of AECs induced by ER stress was measured by assays of mitochondrial function, JNK activation, caspase activation, and nuclear fragmentation. Apoptosis induced by either MG132 or the SP-C BRICHOS mutant G100S was significantly inhibited by the ANG receptor blocker saralasin and was completely abrogated by ANG1–7. Inhibition by ANG1–7 was blocked by the specific mas antagonist A779. These data show that ER stress-induced apoptosis is mediated by the autocrine ANGII/ANG1–7 system in human AECs and demonstrate effective blockade of SP-C mutation-induced apoptosis by ANG1–7. They also suggest that therapeutic strategies aimed at administering ANG1–7 or stimulating ACE-2 may hold potential for the management of ER stress-induced fibrotic lung disorders.


2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (12) ◽  
pp. 938-947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Pavlicek ◽  
Kari Fine-Coulson ◽  
Tuhina Gupta ◽  
Frederick D. Quinn ◽  
James E. Posey ◽  
...  

Despite the interactions known to occur between various lower respiratory tract pathogens and alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), few reports examine factors influencing the interplay between Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli and AECs during infection. Importantly, in vitro studies have demonstrated that the M. tuberculosis hbha and esxA gene products HBHA and ESAT6 directly or indirectly influence AEC survival. In this report, we identify Rv3351c as another M. tuberculosis gene that impacts the fate of both the pathogen and AEC host. Intracellular replication of an Rv3351c mutant in the human AEC type II pneumocyte cell line A549 was markedly reduced relative to the complemented mutant and parent strain. Deletion of Rv3351c diminished the release of lactate dehydrogenase and decreased uptake of trypan blue vital stain by host cells infected with M. tuberculosis bacilli, suggesting attenuated cytotoxic effects. Interestingly, an isogenic hbha mutant displayed reductions in AEC killing similar to those observed for the Rv3351c mutant. This opens the possibility that multiple M. tuberculosis gene products interact with AECs. We also observed that Rv3351c aids intracellular replication and survival of M. tuberculosis in macrophages. This places Rv3351c in the same standing as HBHA and ESAT6, which are important factors in AECs and macrophages. Defining the mechanism(s) by which Rv3351c functions to aid pathogen survival within the host may lead to new drug or vaccine targets.


2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (3) ◽  
pp. L487-L495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Christensen ◽  
Marc B. Bailie ◽  
Richard E. Goodman ◽  
Aidan D. O'Brien ◽  
Galen B. Toews ◽  
...  

Evidence derived from human and animal studies strongly supports the notion that dysfunctional alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) play a central role in determining the progression of inflammatory injury to pulmonary fibrosis. We formed the hypothesis that impaired production of the regulatory cytokine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by injured AECs plays a role in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, we used the well-characterized model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. GM-CSF mRNA is expressed at a constant high level in the lungs of untreated or saline-challenged animals. In contrast, there is a consistent reduction in expression of GM-CSF mRNA in the lung during the first week after bleomycin injury. Bleomycin-treated rats given neutralizing rabbit anti-rat GM-CSF IgG develop increased fibrosis. Type II AECs isolated from rats after bleomycin injury demonstrate diminished expression of GM-CSF mRNA immediately after isolation and in response to stimulation in vitro with endotoxin compared with that in normal type II cells. These data demonstrate a defect in the ability of type II epithelial cells from bleomycin-treated rats to express GM-CSF mRNA and a protective role for GM-CSF in the pathogenesis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (4) ◽  
pp. L318-L325 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Simon ◽  
J. A. Edwards ◽  
M. M. Reza ◽  
R. G. Kunkel

In a variety of inflammatory lung diseases, type I alveolar epithelial cells are more likely to be injured than are type II cells. Because oxidants have been implicated as a cause of injury in various inflammatory lung diseases, we evaluated the effects of differentiation on alveolar epithelial cell susceptibility to H2O2-induced injury. With the use of isolated rat type II cells in culture, we found that the cytotoxic effect of H2O2 increased between days 2 and 7, when type II cells are known to lose their distinctive type II properties and assume a more type I-like appearance. We previously reported that type II cells utilized both intracellular catalase and glutathione-dependent reactions to protect against H2O2. We therefore examined whether alterations in either of these protective mechanisms were responsible for the differentiation-dependent changes in sensitivity to H2O2. We found that catalase activity within alveolar epithelial cells decreased between 2 and 7 days in culture, whereas no changes were detected in glutathione-dependent systems. We then used a histochemical technique that detects catalase activity and found that type II cells within rat lungs possessed numerous catalase-containing peroxisomes, whereas very few were detected in type I cells. These findings demonstrate that as type II cells assume a type I-like phenotype, they become more susceptible to H2O2-induced injury. This increased susceptibility is associated with reductions in intracellular catalase activity, both in vitro and in vivo.


Author(s):  
Guo-Ping Xu ◽  
Qing-Quan Li ◽  
Xi-Xi Cao ◽  
Qi Chen ◽  
Zhong-Hua Zhao ◽  
...  

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate whether transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) could induce alveolar epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro, and whether Smad7 gene transfer could block this transition. We also aimed to elucidate the possible mechanisms of these processes. The Smad7 gene was transfected to the rat type II alveolar epithelial cell line (RLE-6TN). Expression of the EMT-associated markers was assayed by Western Blot and Real-time PCR. Morphological alterations were examined via phase-contrast microscope and fluorescence microscope, while ultrastructural changes were examined via electron microscope. TGF-β1 treatment induced a fibrotic phenotype of RLE-6TN with increased expression of fibronectin (FN), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin, and decreased expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) and cytokeratin19 (CK19). After transfecting the RLE-6TN with the Smad7 gene, the expression of the mesenchymal markers was downregulated while that of the epithelial markers was upregulated. TGF-β1 treatment for 48 h resulted in the separation of RLE-6TN from one another and a change into elongated, myofibroblast-like cells. After the RLE-6TN had been transfected with the Smad7 gene, TGF-β1 treatment had no effect on the morphology of the RLE-6TN. TGF-β1 treatment for 48 h resulted in an abundant expression of α-SMA in the RLE-6TN. If the RLE-6TN were transfected with the Smad7 gene, TGF-β1 treatment for 48 h could only induce a low level of α-SMA expression. Furthermore, TGF-β1 treatment for 12 h resulted in the degeneration and swelling of the osmiophilic multilamellar bodies, which were the markers of type II alveolar epithelial cells. TGF-β1 can induce alveolar epithelialmesenchymal transition in vitro, which is dependent on the Smads signaling pathway to a certain extent. Overexpression of the Smad7 gene can partially block this process


CHEST Journal ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 78S
Author(s):  
Bruce Piedboeuf ◽  
William Maniscalco ◽  
Stephen Hall ◽  
Maura Campbell ◽  
Richard Watkins ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (1) ◽  
pp. L92-L100 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lannan ◽  
K. Donaldson ◽  
D. Brown ◽  
W. MacNee

The oxidant-antioxidant balance in the airspaces of the lungs may be critical in protecting the lungs from the effects of cigarette smoke. We studied the effect of cigarette smoke and its condensates on the detachment, attachment, and proliferation of the A549 human alveolar epithelial cell line, in an in vitro model of cell injury and regeneration and the protective effects of antioxidants. Whole and vapor phase cigarette smoke decreased 51Cr-labeled A549 cell attachment, increased cell detachment, and decreased cell proliferation, as assessed by [3H]thymidine uptake. Freshly isolated rat type II alveolar epithelial cells showed an enhanced susceptibility to smoke-induced cell lysis when compared with the A549 cell line. Reduced glutathione (GSH) (400 microM) protected against the effects of cigarette smoke exposure on cell attachment, proliferation, and detachment. Depletion of intracellular GSH with buthionine sulfoxamine enhanced the epithelial cell detachment injury produced by smoke condensates. We conclude that cigarette smoke and its condensates cause an oxidant-induced injury to A549 human type II alveolar epithelial cells. Both intra- and extracellular GSH have important roles in protecting epithelial cells from the injurious effects of cigarette smoke.


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