title: Effect of tyrosine kinase inhibition on surfactant protein A gene expression during human lung development.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates surfactant protein (SP) A synthesis in human fetal lung explants. Ligand binding to the EGF receptor stimulates an intrinsic receptor tyrosine kinase with subsequent activation of second messengers. We hypothesized that inhibition of EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase activity would block SP-A expression in spontaneously differentiating cultured human fetal lung tissue. Midtrimester fetal lung explants were exposed for 4 days to genistein (a broad-range inhibitor of tyrosine kinases) and tyrphostin AG-1478 (a specific inhibitor of EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase). Genistein significantly decreased SP-A and SP-A mRNA levels without affecting either tissue viability or the morphological differentiation of alveolar type II cells. Tyrphostin AG-1478 also decreased SP-A content and SP-A mRNA levels in cultured fetal lung explants. Treatment with EGF could not overcome the inhibitory effects of either genistein or tyrphostin on SP-A; however, only tyrphostin inhibited EGF-receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. We conclude that specific inhibition of EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase with tyrphostin AG-1478 blocks the expression of SP-A during spontaneous differentiation of cultured human fetal lung tissue. Furthermore, exposure to genistein also decreases SP-A expression and blocks the effects of EGF in human fetal lung tissue without inhibiting EGF-receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. These findings support the importance of tyrosine kinase-dependent signal transduction pathways in the regulation of SP-A during human fetal lung development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242-1083, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: DeWild
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D019833:Genistein / Q000494:pharmacology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism; D020032:Tyrphostins
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D011799:Quinazolines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020032:Tyrphostins; C101044:RTKI cpd; D014443:Tyrosine; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D019833:Genistein; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases