Isolation of a putative progenitor subpopulation of alveolar epithelial type 2 cells.
Alveolar epithelial type 2 cells (AEC2) isolated from hyperoxia-treated animals exhibit increases in both proliferation and DNA damage in response to culture. AEC2 express the zonula adherens proteins E-cadherin, -, - and -catenin, desmoglein, and pp120, as demonstrated by Western blotting. Immunohistochemical analysis of cultured AEC2 showed expression of E-cadherin on cytoplasmic membranes varying from strongly to weakly staining. When cultured AEC2 placed in suspension were labeled with fluorescent-tagged antibodies to E-cadherin, cells could be sorted into at least two subpopulations, either dim or brightly staining for this marker. With the use of antibody to E-cadherin bound to magnetic beads, cells were physically separated into E-cadherin-positive and -negative subpopulations, which were then analyzed for differences in proliferation and DNA damage. The E-cadherin-positive subpopulation contained the majority of damaged cells, was quiescent, and expressed low levels of telomerase activity, whereas the E-cadherin-negative subpopulation was undamaged, proliferative, and expressed high levels of telomerase activity.
Reddy
Raghava
R
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Research Institute, Smith Research Towe, MS 35, 4650 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
Buckley
Sue
S
Doerken
Melissa
M
Barsky
Lora
L
Weinberg
Kenneth
K
Anderson
Kathryn D
KD
Warburton
David
D
Driscoll
Barbara
B
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D002469:Cell Separation; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000473:pathology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism
D015820:Cadherins; D019098:Telomerase