title: Role of neuregulin-1β in dexamethasone-enhanced surfactant synthesis in fetal type II cells.
abstract: It is well established that glucocorticoids elevate the production of fibroblast-pneumocyte factor (FPF), which induces type II cells to synthesize surfactant phospholipids. FPF, however, has not been identified and it is not clear whether it is a single factor or a complex mixture of factors. In this study it has been shown that, when lung fibroblasts are exposed to dexamethasone, the concentration of neuregulin-1β (NRG1β) in conditioned medium is elevated 2-fold (P<0.05), even though NRG1β gene expression is unaffected. This, together with the finding that exposure of type II cells to NRG1β directly stimulates by 3-fold the rate of phospholipid synthesis (P<0.05), suggests that NRG1β is a component of FPF that promotes lung development.
authors: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
authors: George
authors: G
authors: King
authors: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia. Electronic address: G.Maker@murdoch.edu.au.
authors: Garth L
authors: GL
authors: Maker
authors: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Berryman
authors: Separation Science and Metabolomics Laboratory, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Trengove
authors: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
authors: Max H
authors: MH
authors: Cake
mesh_terms: D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011247:Pregnancy; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000502:physiology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020738:Leptin; D020890:Neuregulin-1; D010743:Phospholipids; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C117467:neuregulin beta; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: Fibroblast-conditioned media; Neuregulin-1β; Surfactant phospholipid; Type II pneumocyte