Administration of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) modulates the pulmonary expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits alpha7, alpha9 and alpha10.
Administration of recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor (rHuKGF, Delta23N-KGF, palifermin) protects the lung against a variety of injurious stimuli. The exact mechanisms leading to lung protection are unknown. Alterations in the non-neuronal cholinergic system of the lung might be involved, as vital pulmonary functions are regulated by acetylcholine. Here, we investigated the effect of KGF on the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits alpha7, alpha9 and alpha10 in rat lungs. Adult rats were treated via intratracheal instillation with rHuKGF or with an equivalent volume of PBS. The expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry. Treatment with rHuKGF led to a decreased expression of nicotinic receptor subunit alpha7 in the total lung. In contrast, the expression of the receptor subunits alpha9 and alpha10 was up-regulated. In conclusion, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are differentially regulated by KGF treatment in vivo, which might result in changes in the biological effects of acetylcholine.
Grau
Veronika
V
Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Department of General and Thoracic Surgery, University of Giessen Lung Center, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Rudolf Buchheim Str. 7, D-35385 Giessen, Germany. Veronika.Grau@chiru.med.uni-giessen.de
Wilker
Sigrid
S
Hartmann
Petra
P
Lips
Katrin S
KS
Grando
Sergei A
SA
Padberg
Winfried
W
Fehrenbach
Heinz
H
Kummer
Wolfgang
W
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D021122:Protein Subunits; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051523:Fibroblast Growth Factor 7