title: Foxn4 influences alveologenesis during lung development.
abstract: The terminal stage of lung development begins with the formation of the terminal sacs followed by subdivision of these sacs by septa into numerous alveoli to maximize the gas-exchange surface. This process requires coordinated action of various intrinsic and extrinsic factors as well as interaction of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. We show here that during murine lung development, the Foxn4 transcription factor is expressed in proximal airways by a subpopulation of postmitotic epithelial cells which are distinct from basal and ciliated cells and of which only a small fraction are Clara cells. Targeted inactivation of Foxn4 causes dilated alveoli, thinned alveolar walls, and reduced septa in the distal lung but no overt gross alterations in proximal airways. The alveolar defects in mutants may result from decreased platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGFA) signaling and reduced surfactant protein B (SFTPB) expression. These data together suggest that Foxn4 may have a non-cell-autonomous role critical for alveologenesis during lung development.
authors: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
authors: Shengguo
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Mengqing
authors: M
authors: Xiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005697:Galactosides / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007211:Indoles / Q000378:metabolism; D007763:Lac Operon; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005136:Eye Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C438622:Foxn4 protein, mouse; D005697:Galactosides; D007211:Indoles; C044888:5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl beta-galactoside