Alveolar epithelial type II cells and their microenvironment in the caveolin-1-deficient mouse.
Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is highly expressed in alveolar epithelial type I (AE1) and endothelial cells of the alveolar region of the lung. Interestingly, alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells that are progenitors of the AE1 cells do not express Cav-1. We investigated whether genetic Cav-1 deficiency alters the phenotype of AE2 cells and their microenvironment using stereology. Total number, mean volume, and subcellular composition of the AE2 cells were not altered in Cav-1(-/-) when compared with wild-type mice. The alveolar septa were thickened and contained a significantly greater volume of extracellular matrix. Thus, AE2 cells as progenitors of AE1 cells are not critically involved in the severe pulmonary phenotype in Cav-1-deficient mice.
Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Kristina
K
Jung
Heike
H
Schlenz
Gabriela
G
Krasteva
Christian
C
Mühlfeld
D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000502:physiology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
C495541:Cav1 protein, mouse; D051242:Caveolin 1