title: Overexpression of apoptotic cell removal receptor MERTK in alveolar macrophages of cigarette smokers.
abstract: Mononuclear phagocytes play an important role in the removal of apoptotic cells by expressing cell surface receptors that recognize and remove apoptotic cells. Based on the knowledge that cigarette smoking is associated with increased lung cell turnover, we hypothesized that alveolar macrophages (AMs) of normal cigarette smokers may exhibit enhanced expression of apoptotic cell removal receptor genes. AMs obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of normal nonsmokers (n = 11) and phenotypic normal smokers (n = 13; 36 +/- 6 pack-years) were screened for mRNA expression of all known apoptotic cell removal receptors using Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 microarray chips with TaqMan RT-PCR confirmation. Of the 14 known apoptotic receptors expressed, only MER tyrosine kinase (MERTK), a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, was significantly up-regulated in smokers. MERTK expression was then assessed in AMs of smokers versus nonsmokers by TaqMan RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, Western analysis, and flow analysis. Smoker AMs had up-regulation of MERTK mRNA levels (smoker vs. nonsmoker: 3.6-fold by microarray, P < 0.003; 9.5-fold by TaqMan RT-PCR, P < 0.02). Immunocytochemistry demonstrated a qualitative increase in MERTK protein expression on AMs of smokers. Increased protein expression of MERTK on AMs of smokers was confirmed by Western and flow analyses (P < 0.007 and P < 0.0002, respectively). MERTK, a cell surface receptor that recognizes apoptotic cells, is expressed on human AMs, and its expression is up-regulated in AMs of cigarette smokers. This up-regulation of MERTK may reflect an increased demand for removal of apoptotic cells in smokers, an observation with implications for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a disorder associated with dysregulated apoptosis of lung parenchymal cells.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazeros
authors.forename: Ben-Gary
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Brendan J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Carolan
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vanni
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Ronald G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Crystal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012995:Solubility; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000076202:c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C097072:MERTK protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000076202:c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase