Identification of genes differentially expressed in rat alveolar type I cells.
Although approximately 98% of the internal surface area of the lung is lined by alveolar type I cells, little is known about the functions of this cell type. Using freshly isolated rat type I and type II cells, we created a subtraction library by suppression subtractive hybridization to identify genes differentially expressed by type I cells. We identified twelve genes of known function that are differentially expressed by type I cells. Differential expression of all 12 genes was confirmed by Northern blotting; we confirmed differential expression by immunocytochemistry for 3 genes for which suitable antibodies were available. Most of the genes code for proteins that are multifunctional. From the known functions of these genes, we infer that type I cells may play a role in the maintenance of normal alveolar homeostasis and protection from injury, lung development and remodeling, host defense, tumor/growth suppression, and surfactant metabolism, among other functions.
Dahlin
Katherine
K
Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, USA.
Mager
Edward M
EM
Allen
Lennell
L
Tigue
Zachary
Z
Goodglick
Lee
L
Wadehra
Madhuri
M
Dobbs
Leland
L
D000818:Animals; D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins / Q000235:genetics; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 / Q000235:genetics
D051242:Caveolin 1; D022461:Caveolins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3