Deformation-induced transitional myofibroblasts contribute to compensatory lung growth.
In many mammals, including humans, removal of one lung (pneumonectomy) results in the compensatory growth of the remaining lung. Compensatory growth involves not only an increase in lung size, but also an increase in the number of alveoli in the peripheral lung; however, the process of compensatory neoalveolarization remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-a cytoplasmic protein characteristic of myofibroblasts-is induced in the pleura following pneumonectomy. SMA induction appears to be dependent on pleural deformation (stretch) as induction is prevented by plombage or phrenic nerve transection (P < 0.001). Within 3 days of pneumonectomy, the frequency of SMA+cells in subpleural alveolar ducts was significantly increased (P < 0.01). To determine the functional activity of these SMA+cells, we isolated regenerating alveolar ducts by laser microdissection and analyzed individual cells using microfluidic single-cell quantitative PCR. Single cells expressing the SMA (Acta2) gene demonstrated significantly greater transcriptional activity than endothelial cells or other discrete cell populations in the alveolar duct (P < 0.05). The transcriptional activity of the Acta2+cells, including expression of TGF signaling as well as repair-related genes, suggests that these myofibroblast-like cells contribute to compensatory lung growth.
Laboratory of Adaptive and Regenerative Biology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Robert D
RD
Bennett
Laboratory of Adaptive and Regenerative Biology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Alexandra B
AB
Ysasi
Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
Willi L
WL
Wagner
Laboratory of Adaptive and Regenerative Biology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Cristian D
CD
Valenzuela
Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Akira
A
Tsuda
Indian Institute of Public Health, Kavuri Hills, Madhapur, Hyderabad, India.
Saumyadipta
S
Pyne
Fluidigm Corporation, South San Francisco, California; and.
Shuqiang
S
Li
Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Jonna
J
Grimsby
Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Prapti
P
Pokharel
Fluidigm Corporation, South San Francisco, California; and.
Kenneth J
KJ
Livak
Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.
Maximilian
M
Ackermann
Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Paul
P
Blainey
Laboratory of Adaptive and Regenerative Biology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; smentzer@bwh.harvard.edu.
Steven J
SJ
Mentzer
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019044:Image Cytometry; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
C558396:Acta2 protein, mouse; D000199:Actins
compensatory growth; gene expression; lung; myofibroblasts