Epithelial-vascular cross talk mediated by VEGF-A and HGF signaling directs primary septae formation during distal lung morphogenesis

There is increasing evidence that epithelial-vascular interactions are essential for tissue patterning. Here we identified components of the molecular cross talk between respiratory epithelial cells and pulmonary capillaries necessary for the formation of the gas exchange surface of the lung. Selective inactivation of the Vegf-A gene in respiratory epithelium results in an almost complete absence of pulmonary capillaries, demonstrating the dependence of pulmonary capillary development on epithelium-derived Vegf-A. Deficient capillary formation in Vegf-A deficient lungs is associated with a defect in primary septae formation, a morphogenetic process critical for distal lung morphogenesis, coupled with suppression of epithelial cell proliferation and decreased hepatocyte growth factor (Hgf) expression. Lung endothelial cells express Hgf, and selective deletion of the Hgf receptor gene in respiratory epithelium phenocopies the malformation of septae, confirming the requirement for epithelial Hgf signaling in normal septae formation and suggesting that Hgf serves as an endothelium-derived factor that signals to the epithelium. Our findings support a mechanism for primary septae formation dependent on reciprocal interactions between respiratory epithelium and the underlying vasculature, establishing the dependence of pulmonary capillary development on epithelium-derived Vegf-A, and identify Hgf as a putative endothelium-derived factor that mediates the reciprocal signaling from the vasculature to the respiratory epithelium.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor-deficient mice have delayed primary endochondral ossification because of defective osteoclast recruitment

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its ligands function in diverse cellular functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, motility, and survival. EGFR signaling is important for the development of many tissues, including skin, lungs, intestines, and the craniofacial skeleton. We have now determined the role of EGFR signaling in endochondral ossification. We analyzed long bone development in EGFR-deficient mice. EGFR deficiency caused delayed primary ossification of the cartilage anlage and delayed osteoclast and osteoblast recruitment. Ossification of the growth plates was also abnormal resulting in an expanded area of growth plate hypertrophic cartilage and few bony trabeculae. The delayed osteoclast recruitment was not because of inadequate expression of matrix metalloproteinases, including matrix metalloproteinase-9, which have previously been shown to be important for osteoclast recruitment. EGFR was expressed by osteoclasts, suggesting that EGFR ligands may act directly to affect the formation and/or function of these cells. EGFR signaling regulated osteoclast formation. Inhibition of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity decreased the generation of osteoclasts from cultured bone marrow cells.     

Parabronchial smooth muscle cells and alveolar myofibroblasts in lung development

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions and extracellular matrix remodeling are key processes of embryonic lung development. Lung smooth muscle cells, which are derived from the mesenchyme, form a sheath around bronchi and blood vessels. During lung organogenesis, smooth muscle differentiation coincides with epithelial branching morphogenesis and closely follows developing airways spatially and temporally. The precise function of parabronchial smooth muscle (PBSM) cells in healthy adult lung remains unclear. However, PBSM may regulate epithelial branching morphogenesis during lung development by the induction of mechanical stress or through regulation of paracrine signaling pathways. Alveolar myofibroblasts are interstitial contractile cells that share features and may share an origin with smooth muscle cells. Alveolar myofibroblasts are essential for secondary septation, a process critical for the development of the gas-exchange region of the lung. Dysregulation of PBSM or alveolar myofibroblast development is thought to underlie the pathogenesis of many lung diseases, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, asthma, and interstitial fibrosis. We review the current understanding of the regulation of PBSM and alveolar myofibroblast development, and discuss the role of PBSM in lung development. We specifically focus on the role of these cells in the context of fibroblast growth factor-10, sonic hedgehog, bone morphogenetic protein-4, retinoic acid, and Wnt signaling pathways in the regulation of lung branching morphogenesis.     

抑制差减杂交克隆肺泡发育上游调节基因

肺泡是肺进行气体交换的基本功能单位,但对其发生、发育及调节机制的认识还十分有限。为克隆调节肺泡发生的新基因,我们利用抑制差减杂交技术,以与肺泡发生密切相关的原始肺泡期和肺泡期的小鼠肺为材料,分别相对于肺泡成熟期鼠肺组织构建了两个抑制差减杂交cDNA文库,从中筛选出118个肺泡发生的上游因子。这些基因涉及机体生长发育过程及其调节的多个方面。如可增加内皮细胞渗透性而参与肺血管系统的发生和重建的瞬时受体蛋白(TRPC4),通过刺激平滑肌生长促进肺泡壁毛细血管的发育凝集素(Lgalsl)等。特别是神经元蛋白3．1(亦称P311),因其同时特异表达于原始肺泡期和肺泡期而引起我们的注意。实时PCR进一步显示,P311表达于肺发育的全过程,但表达高峰仅出现于肺泡发育相关阶段,而在成熟肺组织中降至最低点。提示P311可能与肺泡形成密切相关。     

胎肺细胞肾包膜下种植模型--胎肺发育研究之新体内模型

肺是哺乳动物重要的呼吸器官,其发育的大部分过程发生于胚胎阶段,但由于研究手段的限制,对胎肺特别是后期胎肺发生机制的认识还十分有限.本文利用肾包膜下种植的方法建立了胎肺细胞肾包膜下种植模型.模型中上皮发育历经假腺体期、小管期和肺泡前体期等正常胎肺上皮组织发育的所有分化阶段,同时间充质形成广泛的毛细血管网络,与胎肺在子宫中的发育过程一致.更重要的是,消化处理后的单个胎肺细胞可有效地吸收反义寡核苷酸,并在种植组织中产生相应的表型效应.模型的建立为胎肺发生机制研究提供了一条新的途径.     

胎肺细胞肾包膜下种植模型——胎肺发育研究之新体内模型

肺是哺乳动物重要的呼吸器官,其发育的大部分过程发生于胚胎阶段,但由于研究手段的限制,对胎肺特别是后期胎肺发生机制的认识还十分有限。本文利用肾包膜下种植的方法建立了胎肺细胞肾包膜下种植模型。模型中上皮发育历经假腺体期、小管期和肺泡前体期等正常胎肺上皮组织发育的所有分化阶段,同时间充质形成广泛的毛细血管网络,与胎肺在子宫中的发育过程一致。更重要的是,消化处理后的单个胎肺细胞可有效地吸收反义寡核苷酸,并在种植组织中产生相应的表型效应。模型的建立为胎肺发生机制研究提供了一条新的途径。     

Vascular endothelial growth factor co-ordinates proper development of lung epithelium and vasculature

The vasculature forms an intrinsic functional component of the lung and its development must be tightly regulated and coordinated with lung epithelial morphogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors are highly expressed in a complementary pattern in the lungs during embryonic development. VEGF is expressed by epithelium and the receptors in the surrounding mesenchyme. To determine the function of VEGF in lung formation, we inhibited its activity using a soluble receptor in lung renal capsule grafts. Inhibition of VEGF results in inhibition of vascular development and significant alteration in epithelial development. Epithelial proliferation is inhibited, sacculation is impaired, and the epithelium undergoes apoptosis. Interestingly, when VEGF is attenuated, epithelial differentiation still proceeds, as shown by acquisition of both proximal and distal markers. These data show that VEGF co-ordinates epithelial and vascular development. It is required for the development of the lung vasculature and the vasculature is necessary for epithelial proliferation and morphogenesis, but not for cell differentiation.     

New insights into saccular development and vascular formation in lung allografts under the renal capsule

The study of distal lung morphogenesis and vascular development would be greatly facilitated by an in vitro or ex vivo experimental model. In this study we show that the growth of mouse embryonic day 12.5 lung rudiments implanted underneath the kidney capsules of syngeneic or immunodeficient hosts follows closely lung development in utero. The epithelium develops extensively with both proximal and distal differentiation to the saccular stage. The vasculature also develops extensively. Large blood vessels accompany large airways and capillaries develop within the saccular walls. Interestingly, vessels in the lung grafts develop from endothelial progenitor cells endogenous to the explants and host vessels do not vascularize the grafts independently. This suggests that embryonic lungs possess mechanisms to prevent the inappropriate ingrowth of surrounding vessels. However, vessels in the lung grafts do connect to host vessels, showing that embryonic lungs have the ability to stimulate host angiogenesis and recruit host vessel connections. These data support the hypothesis that the lung vasculature develops by both vasculogenic and angiogenic processes: a vascular network develops in situ in lung mesenchyme, which is then connected to angiogenic processes from central vessels. The lung renal capsule allograft is thus an excellent model to study the development of the pulmonary vasculature and of late fetal lung development that requires a functional blood supply.