Identification and characterization of p63 (CKAP4/ERGIC-63/CLIMP-63), a surfactant protein A binding protein, on type II pneumocytes

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) binds to alveolar type II cells through a specific high-affinity cell membrane receptor, although the molecular nature of this receptor is unclear. In the present study, we have identified and characterized an SP-A cell surface binding protein by utilizing two chemical cross-linkers: profound sulfo-SBED protein-protein interaction reagent and dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate) (DSP). Sulfo-SBED-biotinylated SP-A was cross-linked to the plasma membranes isolated from rat type II cells, and the biotin label was transferred from SP-A to its receptor by reduction. The biotinylated SP-A-binding protein was identified on blots by using streptavidin-labeled horseradish peroxidase. By using DSP, we cross-linked SP-A to intact mouse type II cells and immunoprecipitated the SP-A-receptor complex using anti-SP-A antibody. Both of the cross-linking approaches showed a major band of 63 kDa under reduced conditions that was identified as the rat homolog of the human type II transmembrane protein p63 (CKAP4/ERGIC-63/CLIMP-63) by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometry of tryptic fragments. Thereafter, we confirmed the presence of p63 protein in the cross-linked SP-A-receptor complex by immunoprobing with p63 antibody. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments and functional assays confirmed specific interaction between SP-A and p63. Antibody to p63 could block SP-A-mediated inhibition of ATP-stimulated phospholipid secretion. Both intracellular and membrane localized pools of p63 were detected on type II cells by immunofluorescence and immunobloting. p63 colocalized with SP-A in early endosomes. Thus p63 closely interacts with SP-A and may play a role in the trafficking or the biological function of the surfactant protein.     

Survival signaling in type II pneumocytes activated by surfactant protein-A

Surfactant-associated protein-A (SP-A) is a component of pulmonary surfactant that acts as a cytokine through interaction with a cell-surface receptor (SPAR) on lung epithelial cells. SP-A regulates important physiological processes including surfactant secretion, gene expression, and protection against apoptosis. Tyrosine kinase and PI3K inhibitors block effects of SP-A, suggesting that SPAR may be a receptor tyrosine kinase and activate the PI3K-PKB/Akt pathway. Here we report that SP-A treatment leads to rapid tyrosine-specific phosphorylation of several important proteins in lung epithelial cells including insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), an upstream activator of PI3K. Analysis of anti-apoptotic signaling species downstream of IRS-1 showed activation of PKB/Akt but not of MAPK. Phosphorylation of IkappaB was minimally affected by SP-A as was NFkappaB gel shift activity. However, FKHR was rapidly phosphorylated in response to SP-A and its DNA-binding activity was significantly reduced. Since FKHR is pro-apoptotic, this may play an important role in signaling the anti-apoptotic effects of SP-A. Therefore, we have characterized survival-enhancing signaling activated by SP-A leading from SPAR through IRS-1, PI3K, PKB/Akt, and FKHR. The activity of this pathway may explain, in part, the resilience of type II cells to lung injury and their survival to repopulate alveolar epithelium after peripheral lung damage.     

Natural protection from apoptosis by surfactant protein A in type II pneumocytes

Surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A) is a component of pulmonary surfactant that binds to a specific receptor (SPAR) on the surface of type II alveolar cells of the lung and regulates gene expression and surfactant secretion. Previously we have shown that activation of SPAR by SP-A binding initiates a signal through pathways that involve tyrosine phosphorylation, include IRS-1, and entail activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). In other cell types, cytokines that activate the PI3K signaling pathway promote cell survival. Therefore we investigated whether there was an effect of SP-A on apoptosis as measured by DNA laddering, FACS analysis, TUNEL assay, and annexin V binding. SP-A protected primary cultures of rat type II alveolar cells against the apoptotic effects of etoposide and UV light and also protected the H441 human Clara lung tumor cell line against staurosporine-induced apoptosis. The protective effects of SP-A were abrogated by inhibition of either tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity or PI3K. SP-A/SPAR interaction thus initiates a signaling pathway that regulates apoptosis in type II cells. These findings may be important in understanding the pathogenesis of acute lung injury and pulmonary tumorigenesis and may suggest new therapeutic options.     

Regulation of surfactant secretion from isolated Type II pneumocytes by substance P

Substance P, an eleven amino acid neuropeptide, significantly inhibited release of [3H]phosphatidylcholine from pulmonary Type II epithelial cells in vitro. Basal release and release in response to the beta-adrenergic agonist, terbutaline and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) were significantly decreased in the presence of substance P. Inhibitory effects of substance P were noted following a 1 h exposure of primary cultures of Type II cells in vitro and persisted up to 3 h in the presence of the secretagogues, TPA and terbutaline. The IC50 values for substance P inhibition of [3H]PC release were 10 microM for basal release, 40 microM for TPA-induced release and 50 microM for terbutaline-induced release. The related neuropeptide, physalaemin and the stable active analog of substance P, [pGlu5, MePhe8, MeGly9]substance P [5-11], had no significant inhibitory effects on surfactant release whether in the presence or absence of TPA or terbutaline. These data support the hypothesis that NH2-terminal basic groups of substance P are necessary for inhibition of surfactant secretion from isolated Type II cells and support the concept that an inhibitory system contributes to mediation of surfactant secretion from Type II epithelial cells.     

Verapamil: a novel probe of surfactant secretion from rat type II pneumocytes

Surfactant from type II pneumocytes prevents the alveolar atelectasis found in both the neonatal and adult forms of respiratory distress syndrome. We have found that verapamil, a phenylalkene with calcium channel and alpha 1-receptor binding properties, has a multiphasic concentration effect on surfactant secretion from [3H]choline-labeled rat type II pneumocytes in culture. Verapamil (10(-8) M) caused a 24% stimulation of surfactant secretion, whereas an 8% inhibition was found at 10(-6) M and a 70% stimulation was found at 10(-4) M. Lactate dehydrogenase release occurred at 5 x 10(-4) M verapamil. Verapamil (10(-4) M) also produced a 100% increase in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in comparison with concentrations of less than or equal to 10(-6) M, an effect that could not be blocked by propranolol (10(-4) M). Verapamil (10(-6) M) increased the total formation of inositol phosphates (IP) by 23% in comparison with IP formation in control cells. Calcium influx was inhibited 15% by 10(-8) M verapamil and 37% by 10(-4) M verapamil. Calcium efflux was stimulated 44% by 10(-5) M verapamil. In combination with 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of terbutaline, phorbol ester, and ATP, the respective effects of verapamil (10(-4) M) on surfactant secretion were approximately additive. We conclude that verapamil has a novel multiphasic concentration effect on surfactant secretion, which appears to involve several signal transduction pathways including cAMP formation, IP formation, inhibition of calcium influx, and stimulation of calcium efflux.     

Nitric oxide decreases surfactant protein gene expression in primary cultures of type II pneumocytes

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator effective in treating persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns and in infants following congenital heart disease surgery. Recently, multiple in vivo and in vitro studies have shown a negative effect of NO on surfactant activity as well as surfactant protein gene expression. Although the relationship between NO and surfactant has been studied previously, the data has been hard to interpret due to the model systems used. The objective of the current study was to characterize the effect of NO on surfactant protein gene expression in primary rat type II pneumocytes cultured on a substratum that promoted the maintenance of type II cell phenotype. Exposure to a NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), decreased surfactant protein (SP)-A, (SP)-B, and (SP)-C mRNA levels in type II pneumocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effect was mediated in part by an increase in endothelin-1 secretion and a decrease in the intracellular messenger, phosphorylated ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Exposing type II pneumocytes to endothelin-1 receptor antagonists PD-156707 or bosentan before exposure to SNAP partially prevented the decrease in surfactant protein gene expression. The results showed that NO mediated the decrease in surfactant protein gene expression at least in part through an increase in endothelin-1 secretion and a decrease in phosphorylated ERK1/2 MAPKs.     

Stimulation of pulmonary surfactant secretion by activating neutrophils in rat type II pneumocytes culture

The influence of activating neutrophils on the secretion of phosphatidylcholine (PC), the predominant component of pulmonary surfactant, was examined using primary culture of rat type II pneumocytes. Simultaneous addition of neutrophils and opsonized zymosan, but not neutrophils or opsonized zymosan alone, to type II pneumocytes caused a significant increase in PC secretion without affecting the release of lactate dehydrogenase, a marker of cytotoxicity. The increase in PC secretion was dependent on the number of activating neutrophils. In addition, pretreatment of culture with the combination of superoxide dismutase and catalase inhibited the increase in PC secretion. These findings indicate that activating neutrophils stimulate the secretion of pulmonary surfactant and that the stimulation is mediated by oxygen radicals.     

P1 and P2 purinergic receptor signal transduction in rat type II pneumocytes

Extracellular ATP is a potent agonist of surfactant phosphatidylcholine (PC) exocytosis from type II pneumocytes in culture. We studied P1 and P2 receptor signal transduction in type II pneumocytes. The EC50 for ATP on PC exocytosis was 10(-6) M, whereas the EC50 for ADP, AMP, adenosine, and the nonmetabolizable ATP analogue alpha,beta-methylene ATP was 10(-4) M. The rank order of agonists for PC exocytosis was ATP greater than ADP greater than AMP greater than adenosine greater than alpha,beta-methylene ATP. The rank order of agonists for phosphatidylinositol (PI) hydrolysis was ATP greater than ADP, whereas AMP, adenosine, and alpha,beta-methylene ATP did not stimulate PI hydrolysis. ATP (10(-4) M) caused a 15-fold increase in adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production, and the nonmetabolizable adenosine analogue 5'-N-ethylcarboxyamidoadenosine (10(-6) M) increased cAMP production threefold. The effects of both these agonists on cAMP production were completely inhibited by the adenosine antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline (10(-5) M). The effects of ATP (10(-4) M) on PC exocytosis were inhibited 38% by 10(-5) M 8-phenyltheophylline. Thus, ATP regulates PC exocytosis by activating P2 receptors, which stimulate PI hydrolysis to inositol phosphate, as well as by activating P1 receptors, which stimulate cAMP production. Interactions between the P1 and P2 pathways may explain the high potency of extracellular ATP as an agonist of PC exocytosis.     

Stimulation of surfactant secretion by vasopressin in primary cultures of adult rat type II pneumocytes

The current study examined the effect of vasopressin on the secretion of phosphatidylcholine, the principal component of pulmonary surfactant, from adult rat alveolar type II pneumocytes in primary culture. Vasopressin stimulated secretion in a time- and dose-dependent manner. At a concentration of 10 nM, vasopressin stimulated release by 6-fold over the basal secretory rate. The concentration producing half the maximal response for vasopressin-induced secretion was 0.4 nM. The stimulation of phosphatidylcholine release by vasopressin was duplicated by the vasopressin fragment, amino acids 4 through 9. [Lys8]vasopressin and the selective vasopressin-2 agonist [deamino-8-D-Arg]vasopressin did not stimulate surfactant secretion effectively. The vasopressin- and fragment-induced secretion was inhibited by the vasopressin-1 receptor antagonist d(CH2)5TDAVP and the protein kinase C inhibitor, tetracaine, but not by the beta-adrenergic antagonist alprenolol. Vasopressin did not activate adenylate cyclase, which suggests that stimulation by vasopressin was independent of cyclic AMP. When vasopressin and isoproterenol were added concomitantly, the effects on phosphatidylcholine secretion were additive. This suggests that these two secretagogues operate via separate mechanisms.     

Spatio-temporal aspects, pathways and actions of Ca(2+) in surfactant secreting pulmonary alveolar type II pneumocytes

The type II cell of the pulmonary alveolus is a polarized epithelial cell that secretes surfactant into the alveolar space by regulated exocytosis of lamellar bodies (LBs). This process consists of multiple sequential steps and is correlated to elevations of the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) required for extended periods of secretory activity. Both chemical (purinergic) and mechanical (cell stretch or exposure to an air-liquid interface) stimuli give rise to complex Ca(2+) signals (such as Ca(2+) peaks, spikes and plateaus) that differ in shape, origin and spatio-temporal behavior. This review summarizes current knowledge about Ca(2+) channels, including vesicular P2X4 purinoceptors, in type II cells and associated signaling cascades within the alveolar microenvironment, and relates stimulus-dependent activation of these pathways with distinct stages of surfactant secretion, including pre- and postfusion stages of LB exocytosis.     

An albumin-associated PLA2-like activity inactivates surfactant phosphatidylcholine secreted from fetal type II pneumocytes

Type II pneumocytes are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of pulmonary surfactant, which reduces surface tension in lung alveoli, thus decreasing their tendency to collapse during expiration. For this effect to be sustained, the integrity of the surface-active components of surfactant must be maintained. This study has shown that, when cultured type II pneumocytes are exposed to lipoprotein-free serum (LFS), the level of lyso-phosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC) in the secreted surfactant phospholipids is markedly elevated with a concomitant decline in the level of phosphatidylcholine (PC). This effect is the result of hydrolysis of surfactant PC by a phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2))-like activity present within serum. Anion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography and preparative electrophoresis of human LFS have shown that this PLA(2)-like activity coelutes with albumin and is biochemically distinct from the secretory form of PLA(2). Furthermore, specific inhibitors of PLA(2) such as p-bromophenacyl bromide, aristolochic acid, and palmitoyl trifluoromethyl ketone do not inhibit this activity of serum. Commercially purified human serum albumin fraction V and recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) are almost as effective as LFS in enhancing the level of lyso-PC in the media. The latter finding implies that rHSA directly generates lyso-PC from secreted PC and suggests that this PLA(2)-like activity may be an intrinsic attribute of albumin.     

The effects of insulin and hyperglycemia on surfactant phospholipid synthesis in organotypic cultures of type II pneumocytes

Organotypic cultures of fetal type II epithelial cells were incubated in media containing insulin at concentrations ranging from 10 to 400 microunits/ml. Exposure to insulin resulted in increased glucose uptake from the media and in the rate of glucose conversion to CO2. Furthermore, both glucose uptake and CO2 production were dependent on the glucose concentration in the media. Surfactant and residual phosphatidylcholine fractions were isolated from the organotypic cultures by sucrose density centrifugation. The presence of low doses of insulin (10-25 microunits/ml) caused a significant increase in the incorporation of glucose into both surfactant and residual phosphatidylcholine. Insulin at levels of 100 microunits/ml or higher resulted in a significant decrease in glucose incorporation into both phosphatidylcholine fractions. Increasing the media glucose concentration from 5.6 to 20 mM caused a 2- to 2.5-fold increase in glucose utilization for surfactant and residual phospholipid synthesis, but did not produce any significant changes in choline incorporation into either surfactant or residual phosphatidylcholine. The addition of 400 microunits/ml of insulin to media containing 20 mM glucose, however, resulted in a 20% decrease in choline incorporation into surfactant phosphatidylcholine but had no effect on choline incorporation into residual phosphatidylcholine. These results suggest that insulin is an important hormone regulating fetal lung maturation and that hyperinsulinemia may be responsible for the delayed lung development in infants of diabetic mothers.     

Uptake of a natural surfactant and increased delivery of small organic anions into type II pneumocytes

The uptake of natural lung surfactant into differentiated type II cells may be used for the targeted delivery of other molecules. The fluorescent anion pyranine [hydroxypyren-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid, sodium salt (HPTS)] was incorporated into a bovine surfactant labeled with [3H]dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ([3H]DPPC). The uptake of [3H]DPPC and of HPTS increased with time of incubation and concentration, decreased with the size of the vesicles used, and was stimulated by 8-bromo-cAMP and partially inhibited by hypertonic sucrose. However, the amount of HPTS uptake was approximately 100 times smaller than that of [3H]DPPC. This large difference was due to a more rapid regurgitation of some of the HPTS from the cells but not to leakage from the surfactant before uptake. The acidification of the internalized surfactant increased linearly over 90 min to 7.13, and after 24 h, a pH of 6.83 was measured. In conclusion, after internalization of a double-labeled natural surfactant, the lipid moieties were accumulated in relation to the anions, which were targeted to a compartment not very acidic and in part rapidly expelled from the cells.     

Polarized light microscopy reveals physiological and drug-induced changes in surfactant membrane assembly in alveolar type II pneumocytes

In alveolar type II (AT II) cells, pulmonary surfactant (PS) is synthetized, stored and exocytosed from lamellar bodies (LBs), specialized large secretory organelles. By applying polarization microscopy (PM), we confirm a specific optical anisotropy of LBs, which indicates a liquid-crystalline mesophase of the stored surfactant phospholipids (PL) and an unusual case of a radiation-symmetric, spherocrystalline organelle. Evidence is shown that the degree of anisotropy is dependent on the amount of lipid layers and their degree of hydration, but unaffected by acutely modulating vital cell parameters like intravesicular pH or cellular energy supply. In contrast, physiological factors that perturb this structure include osmotic cell volume changes and LB exocytosis. In addition, we found two pharmaceuticals, Amiodarone and Ambroxol, both of which severely affect the liquid-crystalline order. Our study shows that PM is an easy, very sensitive, but foremost non-invasive and label-free method able to collect important structural information of PS assembly in live AT II cells which otherwise would be accessible by destructive or labor intense techniques only. This may open new approaches to dynamically investigate LB biosynthesis - the incorporation, folding and packing of lipid membranes - or the initiation of pathological states that manifest in altered LB structures. Due to the observed drug effects, we further suggest that PM provides an appropriate way to study unspecific drug interactions with alveolar cells and even drug-membrane interactions in general.     

Role of platelet-activating factor in phosphatidylcholine secretion in primary cultures of rat type II pneumocytes

This study was designed to investigate the effect of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the secretory response of type II pneumocytes, that are involved in the synthesis and secretion of the pulmonary surfactant. PAF increased phosphatidylcholine secretion in a concentration-dependent manner in the 10(-5) - 10(-10) M range, with a maximum phosphatidylcholine secretion of up to 3.3 fold the basal values (3.4 +/- 0.3% phosphatidylcholine secreted). This effect was prevented by the synthetic PAF-receptor antagonist WEB 2086. A study of the mechanism through which PAF exerts its stimulatory effect was carried out adding different agents that are well known stimulants of phosphatidylcholine secretion. Thus, PAF increased the TPA- and terbutaline-stimulated phosphatidylcholine secretion, that are PKC and PKA activators respectively, suggesting the involvement of both protein kinases in the process. This involvement was further supported by the use of inhibitors of protein kinases and by the stimulation of cAMP production in type II pneumocytes incubated with PAF.     

Monoclonal antibody isolation of type II pneumocytes

A monoclonal antibody that identifies a membrane molecule unique in rat lung for type II alveolar epithelial cells was used to isolate these cells from enzymatically dispersed lung cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Although multistep physical separation techniques have permitted the isolation of large quantities of these cells and flow cytometry has been used by others to isolate lamellar body-containing cells, the application of this antibody-directed sorting has distinct advantages. Because the marker molecule is expressed on immature type II cells prior to the development of lamellar bodies, the antibody will also permit their isolation and study.     

Reactive type II pneumocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of reactive type II pneumocytes (RPII) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples obtained from patients with various pulmonary disorders. STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive BAL fluid samples were screened for the presence of RPII on May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained cytocentrifuge preparations. BAL fluid samples with and without RPII were compared with regard to prevalence, associated clinical diagnoses and cytologic findings. RESULTS: RPII were generally large cells with a high nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio and deeply blue-stained, vacuolated cytoplasm. Most RPII occurred in cohesive cell groups, and the vacuoles tended to be confluent. Cytologic findings associated with RPII were foamy alveolar macrophages, activated lymphocytes and plasma cells. RPII were present in 94 (21.7%) of 433 included BAL fluid samples. The highest prevalences were noted in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and alveolar hemorrhage. In addition, RPII tended to occur more frequently in ventilator-associated pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, extrinsic allergic alveolitis and drug-induced pulmonary disorders. In contrast, RPII were not observed in BAL fluid samples obtained from patients with sarcoidosis. CONCLUSION: RPII were prevalent in about 20% of BAL fluid specimens. They were associated mainly with conditions of acute lung injury and not observed in sarcoidosis.     

Molecular species of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol in rat lung surfactant and different pools of pneumocytes type II.

It is not yet completely understood how a cell is able to export specific phospholipids, like dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (dipalmitoyl-PC), which is secreted by pneumocytes type II, into pulmonary surfactant. The acyl species composition of [3H]PC which was synthesized in type II cells in the presence of [2-3H]glycerol resembled the species composition of PC localized in intracellular pneumocyte membranes. This species pattern was different from the pattern of PC of lamellar bodies, i.e., intracellularly stored surfactant, by a higher proportion of dipalmitoyl-PC mainly at expense of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-PC. Lamellar body PC in turn showed the same species distribution as surfactant PC. The data suggest that subcellular compartmentation and/or intracellular transfer of PC destined to storage in lamellar bodies, but not secretion of lamellar bodies, involves an enrichment of dipalmitoyl-PC and a depletion of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-PC. In contrast, the acyl species pattern of phosphatidylglycerol does not seem to undergo gross changes on the path from synthesis to secretion.     

Corticosteroid receptor in type II pneumocytes of the rat

Glucocorticoid receptor in rat type II pneumocytes has been characterized. The Scatchard plot analysis of 3H-dexamethasone binding to type II cells showed a single class of binding sites. The apparent Kd of 3H-dexamethasone binding by a whole cell assay was 9.1 nM and the maximal binding capacity was 78.0 f mol/10(6) cells (0.31 pmol/mg cytosol protein).