title: Stage-specific regulation of respiratory epithelial cell differentiation by Foxa1.
abstract: Foxa1 is a member of the winged helix family of transcription factors that is expressed in epithelial cells of the conducting airways and in alveolar type II cells of the lung. To determine the role of Foxa1 during lung morphogenesis, histology and gene expression were assessed in lungs from Foxa1-/- gene-targeted mice from embryonic day (E) 16.5 to postnatal day (PN) 13. Deletion of Foxa1 perturbed maturation of the respiratory epithelium at precise times during lung morphogenesis. While dilatation of peripheral lung saccules was delayed in Foxa1-/- mice at E16.5, sacculation was unperturbed later in development (E17.5-E18.5). At PN5, alveolarization was markedly delayed in Foxa1-/- mice; however, by PN13 lung histology was comparable to wild-type controls. Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP), prosurfactant protein (SP)-C, and SP-B protein content and immunostaining were decreased in Foxa1-/- mice between E16.5 and E18.5 but normalized after birth. Timing and sites of expression of thyroid transcription factor-1, Foxj1, and beta-tubulin were unaltered in lungs of Foxa1-/- mice. In vitro, Foxa1 regulated the activity of CCSP and SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D promoters as assessed by luciferase reporter assays in HeLa, H441, and MLE15 cells. Although Foxa1 regulates respiratory epithelial differentiation and structural maturation of the lung at precise developmental periods, the delay in maturation is subsequently compensated at times to enable respiratory function and restore normal lung structure after birth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Besnard
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wert
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kaestner
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whitsett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006367:HeLa Cells; D051541:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014598:Uteroglobin / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C496500:Foxa1 protein, mouse; D005819:Genetic Markers; D051541:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha; C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; C000614414:Nkx2-1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; C556389:SCGB1A1 protein, human; C556390:Scgb1a1 protein, mouse; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014598:Uteroglobin