title: Evidence that autocrine signaling through Bmpr1a regulates the proliferation, survival and morphogenetic behavior of distal lung epithelial cells.
abstract: Lung development requires reciprocal epithelial/mesenchymal interactions, mediated by signaling factors such as Bmps made in both cell populations. To address the role of Bmp signaling in the epithelium, we have exploited the fact that Bmp receptor type Ia (Alk3) is expressed in the epithelium during branching morphogenesis. Deletion of Bmpr1a in the epithelium with an Sftpc-cre transgene leads to dramatic defects in lung development. There is reduced epithelial proliferation, extensive apoptosis, changes in cell morphology and extrusion of cells into the lumen. By E18.5, there are fewer Type II cells than normal, and the lung contains large fluid-filled spaces. If cell death is prevented by making embryos homozygous null for the proapoptotic gene, Bax, the epithelial cells that are rescued can apparently differentiate, but normal morphogenesis is not restored. To determine whether Bmps made by the epithelium can function in an autocrine manner, mesenchyme-free endoderm was cultured in Matrigel with Fgfs. Under these conditions, the mutant epithelium fails to undergo secondary budding. Abnormal development was also seen when Bmp4 was specifically deleted in the epithelium using the Sftpc-cre transgene. Our results support a model in which Bmp signaling primarily regulates the proliferation, survival and morphogenetic behavior of distal lung epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: Maxwell C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Eblaghie
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reedy
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mishina
authors.forename: Brigid L M
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hogan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D004707:Endoderm / Q000502:physiology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494827:Bax protein, mouse; C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C498212:Bmpr1a protein, mouse; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I