American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology

Adler, Kenneth B.; Matalon, Sadis

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2009-2003edpmid: N/A

Thannickal, Victor J.

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0360pspmid: 18978299

Ratner, Veniamin; Starkov, Anatoly; Matsiukevich, Dzmitry; Polin, Richard A.; Ten, Vadim S.

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0341rcpmid: 19168698

This study investigated whether mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to alveolar developmental arrest in a mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). To induce BPD, 3-day-old mice were exposed to 75% O2. Mice were studied at two time points of hyperoxia (72 h or 2 wk) and after 3 weeks of recovery in room air (RA). A separate cohort of mice was exposed to pyridaben, a complex-I (C-I) inhibitor, for 72 hours or 2 weeks. Alveolarization was quantified by radial alveolar count and mean linear intercept methods. Pulmonary mitochondrial function was defined by respiration rates, ATP-production rate, and C-I activity. At 72 hours, hyperoxic mice demonstrated significant inhibition of C-I activity, reduced respiration and ATP production rates, and significantly decreased radial alveolar count compared with controls. Exposure to pyridaben for 72 hours, as expected, caused significant inhibition of C-I and ADP-phosphorylating respiration. Similar to hyperoxic littermates, these pyridaben-exposed mice exhibited significantly delayed alveolarization compared with controls. At 2 weeks of exposure to hyperoxia or pyridaben, mitochondrial respiration was inhibited and associated with alveolar developmental arrest. However, after 3 weeks of recovery from hyperoxia or 2 weeks after 72 hours of exposure to pyridaben alveolarization significantly improved. In addition, there was marked normalization of C-I and mitochondrial respiration. The degree of hyperoxia-induced pulmonary simplification and recovery strongly (r2 = 0.76) correlated with C-I activity in lung mitochondria. Thus, the arrest of alveolar development induced by either hyperoxia or direct inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation indicates that bioenergetic failure to maintain normal alveolar development is one of the fundamental mechanisms responsible for BPD.

Zemans, Rachel L.; Colgan, Sean P.; Downey, Gregory P.

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0348trpmid: 18978300

The primary function of neutrophils in host defense is to contain and eradicate invading microbial pathogens. This is achieved through a series of swift and highly coordinated responses culminating in ingestion (phagocytosis) and killing of invading microbes. While these tasks are usually performed without injury to host tissues, in pathologic circumstances such as sepsis, potent antimicrobial compounds can be released extracellularly, inducing a spectrum of responses in host cells ranging from activation to injury and death. In the lung, such inflammatory damage is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of diverse lung diseases, including acute lung injury and the acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic obstructive lung disease, and cystic fibrosis. In these disorders, epithelial cells are targets of leukocyte-derived antimicrobial products, including proteinases and oxidants. Herein, we review the mechanisms involved in the physiologic process of neutrophil transepithelial migration, including the role of specific adhesion molecules on the leukocyte and epithelial cells. We examine the responses of the epithelial cells to the itinerant leukocytes and their cytotoxic products and the consequences of this for lung injury and repair. This paradigm has important clinical implications because of the potential for selective blockade of these pathways to prevent or attenuate lung injury.

Shibasaki, Masataka; Hashimoto, Katsunori; Okamoto, Masakazu; Hayashi, Yuta; Imaizumi, Kazuyoshi; Hashimoto, Naozumi; Ozaki, Nobuaki; Yokoi, Toyoharu; Takagi, Kenzo; Hasegawa, Yoshinori; Shimokata, Kaoru; Kawabe, Tsutomu

Nie, Hong-Guang; Tucker, Torry; Su, Xue-Feng; Na, Tao; Peng, Ji-Bin; Smith, Peter R.; Idell, Steven; Ji, Hong-Long

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0166ocpmid: 18927349

Pleural effusions are commonly clinical disorders, resulting from the imbalance between pleural fluid turnover and reabsorption. The mechanisms underlying pleural fluid clearance across the mesothelium remain to be elucidated. We hypothesized that epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) is expressed and forms the molecular basis of the amiloride-sensitive resistance in human mesothelial cells. Our RT-PCR results showed that three ENaC subunits, namely, α, β, γ, and two δ ENaC subunits, are expressed in human primary pleural mesothelial cells, a human mesothelioma cell line (M9K), and mouse pleural tissue. In addition, Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy studies revealed that α, β, γ, and δ ENaC subunits are expressed in primary human mesothelial cells and M9K cells at the protein level. An amiloride-inhibitable short-circuit current was detected in M9K monolayers and mouse pleural tissues when mounted in Ussing chambers. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings showed an ENaC-like channel with an amiloride concentration producing 50% inhibition of 12 μM in M9K cells. This cation channel has a high affinity for extracellular Na+ ions (Km: 53 mM). The ion selectivity of this channel to cations follows the same order as ENaC: Li+ > Na+ > K+. The unitary Li+ conductance was 15 pS in on-cell patches. Four ENaC subunits form a functional Na+ channel when coinjected into Xenopus oocytes. Furthermore, we found that both forskolin and cGMP increased the short-circuit currents in mouse pleural tissues. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the ENaC channels are biochemically and functionally expressed in human pleural mesothelial cells, and can be up-regulated by cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP.

Otulakowski, Gail; Duan, Wenming; O'Brodovich, Hugh

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0284ocpmid: 18952566

During the peripartum period, the lung must respond to dramatic changes in circulating hormones, nutritional factors, and physiologic signals during its transition to becoming the organ of gas exchange. Protein synthesis consumes a significant proportion of metabolic resources and is inhibited by many environmental stresses. We hypothesized that translational control mechanisms play a role in the perinatal lung. Immunoblots of late-gestation (Fetal Day [FD] 17–22) rat lung extracts revealed gradual decreases in phosphorylated forms of the mammalian target of rapamycin effectors, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E–binding protein, p70 S6 kinase, and ribosomal protein S6, followed by sharp increases on Postnatal Day 1 (P1). Immunohistochemistry showed phospho-S6 staining was most prominent in epithelial cells of the large and small airways. m7GTP-sepharose pulldown experiments showed a decrease in association of translation initiation factor, eIF4E, with its inhibitor, eIF4E–binding protein, and a concomitant increase in eIF4E association with eIF4G immediately after birth, and polysome profiles confirmed a decrease in abundance of large polysomes between FD19 and FD22, which was reversed on P1. Microarray analysis of polysomal versus total RNA from FD19, FD22, and P1 lungs was used to identify specific genes, the association of which with large polysomes changed either pre- or postnatally. RT-PCR and Northern blotting were used to confirm translational changes in selected candidate genes, including a prenatal increase in IL-18 and a postnatal decrease in regulatory subunit 2 of protein phosphatase 1. Translational regulation of IL-18 and protein phosphatase 1 regulatory (inhibitor) subunit 2 is gene-specific, as these changes contrast with the corresponding global changes in polysome abundance.

Oh, Sun Young; Zheng, Tao; Kim, Yoon-Keun; Cohn, Lauren; Homer, Robert J.; McKenzie, Andrew N. J.; Zhu, Zhou

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0225ocpmid: 18952567

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Type 2 T helper (Th) cell–dominated inflammation in the lung is a hallmark of asthma. Src homology 2 domain–containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP)-1 is a negative regulator in the signaling pathways of many growth factor and cytokine receptors. However, a direct role of SHP-1 in the IL-4/IL-13 signaling pathway has not been established. In this study, we sought to define the function of SHP-1 in the lung by characterizing the pulmonary inflammation of viable motheaten (mev) mice, and to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved. Pulmonary histology, physiology, and cytokine expression of mev mice were analyzed to define the nature of the inflammation, and the gene-deletion approach was used to identify critical molecules involved. In mev mice, we observed spontaneous Th2-like inflammatory responses in the lung, including eosinophilia, mucus metaplasia, airway epithelial hypertrophy, pulmonary fibrosis, and increased airway resistance and airway hyperresponsiveness. The pulmonary phenotype was accompanied by up-regulation of Th2 cytokines and chemokines. Selective deletion of IL-13 or signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, key genes in the Th2 signaling pathway, significantly reduced, but did not completely eliminate, the inflammation in the lung. These findings suggest that SHP-1 plays a critical role in regulating the IL-4/IL-13 signaling pathway and in maintaining lung homeostasis.

Fritzell, James A.; Mao, Quanfu; Gundavarapu, Sravanthi; Pasquariello, Terry; Aliotta, Jason M.; Ayala, Alfred; Padbury, James F.; De Paepe, Monique E.

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0176ocpmid: 18988921

Cell-based therapy in adult lung injury models is associated with highly variable donor cell engraftment and epithelial reconstitution. The role of marrow-derived cell therapy in neonatal lung injury is largely unknown. In this study, we determined the fate and effects of adult bone marrow cells in a model of neonatal lung injury. Wild-type mice placed in a normoxic or hyperoxic (95% O2) environment received bone marrow cells from animals expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) at Postnatal Day (P)5. Controls received vehicle buffer. Lungs were analyzed between Post-Transplantation (TPX) Day 2 and Week 8. The volume of GFP-immunoreactive donor cells, monitored by stereologic volumetry, remained constant between Post-TPX Weeks 1 and 8 and was similar in normoxic and hyperoxia-exposed recipients. Virtually all marrow-derived cells showed colocalization of GFP and the pan-macrophage marker, F4/80, by double immunofluorescence studies. Epithelial transdifferentiation was not seen. Marrow cell administration had adverse effects on somatic growth and alveolarization in normoxic mice, while no effects were discerned in hyperoxia-exposed recipients. Reexposure of marrow-treated animals to hyperoxia at P66 resulted in significant expansion of the donor-derived macrophage population. In conclusion, intranasal administration of unfractionated bone marrow cells to newborn mice does not achieve epithelial reconstitution, but establishes persistent alveolar macrophage chimerism. The predominantly adverse effects of marrow treatment in newborn lungs are likely due to macrophage-associated paracrine effects. While this model and route of cell therapy may not achieve epithelial reconstitution, the role of selected stem cell populations and/or alternate routes of administration for cell-based therapy in injured newborn lungs deserve further investigation.

Chen, Lan; Song, Weifeng; Davis, Ian C.; Shrestha, Kedar; Schwiebert, Erik; Sullender, Wayne M.; Matalon, Sadis

doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2008-0034ocpmid: 18952569

We investigated the mechanisms by which respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection decreases vectorial Na+ transport across respiratory epithelial cells. Mouse tracheal epithelial (MTE) cells from either BALB/c or C57BL/6 mice and human airway H441 cells were grown on semipermeable supports under an air–liquid interface. Cells were infected with RSV-A2 and mounted in Ussing chambers for measurements of short-circuit currents (Isc). Infection with RSV for 24 hours (multiplicity of infection = 1) resulted in positive immunofluorescence for RSV antigen in less than 10% of MTE or H441 cells. In spite of the limited number of cells infected, RSV reduced both basal and amiloride-sensitive Isc in both MTE and H441 cells by approximately 50%, without causing a concomitant reduction in transepithelial resistance. Agents that increased intracellular cAMP (forskolin, cpt-CAMP, and IBMX) increased mainly Cl− secretion in MTE cells and Na+ absorption in H441 cells. RSV infection for 24 hours blunted both variables. In contrast, ouabain sensitive Isc, measured across apically permeabilized H441 monolayers, remained unchanged. Western blot analysis of H441 cell lysates demonstrated reductions in α- but not γ-ENaC subunit protein levels at 24 hours after RSV infection. The reduction in amiloride-sensitive Isc in H441 cells was prevented by pretreatment with inhibitors of de novo pyrimidine or purine synthesis (A77-1726 and 6-MP, respectively, 50 μM). Our results suggest that infection of both murine and human respiratory epithelial cells with RSV inhibits vectorial Na+ transport via nucleotide release. These findings are consistent with our previous studies showing reduced alveolar fluid clearance after RSV infection of BALB/c mice.