title: Neuregulin-ErbB4 signaling in the developing lung alveolus: a brief review.
abstract: Lung immaturity is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants, especially those born <28 weeks gestation. Proper lung development from 23-28 weeks requires coordinated cell proliferation and differentiation. Infants born at this age are at high risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a lung disease characterized by insufficient surfactant production due to immaturity of the alveoli and its constituent cells in the lung. The ErbB4 receptor and its stimulation by neuregulin (NRG) plays a critical role in surfactant synthesis by alveolar type II epithelial cells. In this review, we first provide an introduction to normal human alveolar development, followed by a discussion of the neuregulin and ErbB4-mediated mechanisms regulating alveolar development and surfactant production.
authors.affiliation: Program in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02111, USA, Najla.Fiaturi@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Najla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fiaturi
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Castellot
authors.forename: Heber C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Nielsen