title: Keratinocyte growth factor-induced hyperplasia of rat alveolar type II cells in vivo is resolved by differentiation into type I cells and by apoptosis.
abstract: Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a potent mitogen of alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEII). AEII hyperplasia is resolved within several days following intratracheal instillation of KGF by unknown mechanism(s). AEII hyperplasia was induced in rat lungs by intrabronchial instillation of 5 mg recombinant human (rh)KGF x kg body weight(-1) or an equivalent amount of diluent. Epithelial architecture, cell proliferation, transformation of AEII into type I cells (AEI) and apoptosis were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry, stereology, double immunofluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labelling (TUNEL) technique in lungs fixed 1, 2, 3 and 7 days after treatment. After 1 day of rhKGF instillation, an increase was observed in the nuclear antigen Ki-67, a proliferation marker detected by the antibody MIB-5-expressing surfactant protein (SP)-B, -C, -D-positive AEII. The incidence of mitosis was increased by day 2, resulting in AEII micropapillae with intense basolateral expression of the exon 6 containing isoform (v6) of CD446 (CD44v6), a marker for AEII. By day 3, monolayers of AEII exhibiting lateral CD44v6 covered 45% of the alveolar surface. After 7 days, there were numerous intermediate AEII/AEI cells characterized by a flat elongated shape, staining for SP-D, apical appearance of AEI marker Lycopersicon esculentum lectin and lateral staining for AEII marker CD44v6. Increased numbers of TUNEL-positive epithelial cells were seen at days 2-7. In conclusion, restoration of normal alveolar epithelium after instillation of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor is accomplished by terminal differentiation and apoptosis of hyperplastic alveolar epithelial type II cells in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Clinics Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fehrenbach
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tschernig
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C112697:CD44v6 antigen; C496455:Fgf7 protein, rat; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors