Expression analysis of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha and its ligands in the developing mouse lung.
Activation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α(PDGFRα) signaling pathway is critically important during lung alveogenesis, the process in lung development during which alveoli are formed from the terminal alveolar sacs. Several studies have aimed to characterize the expression patterns of PDGFRαand its two ligands (PDGF-A and -C) in the lung, but published analyses have been limited to embryonic and/or perinatal time points, and no attempts have been made to characterize both receptor and ligand expression simultaneously. In this study, we present a detailed map of the expression patterns of PDGFRα, PDGF-A and PDGF-C during the entire period of lung development, that is, from early embryogenesis until adulthood. Three different reporter mice were analyzed (Pdgfaex4-COIN-INV-lacZ,Pdgfctm1Nagy, andPdgfratm11(EGFP)Sor), in which eitherlacZorH2B-GFPwere expressed under the respective promoter in gene-targeted alleles. A spatiotemporal dynamic expression was identified for both ligands and receptor. PDGF-A and PDGF-C were located to distinct populations of epithelial and smooth muscle cells, whereas PDGFRαexpression was located to different mesenchymal cell populations. The detailed characterization of gene expression provides a comprehensive map of PDGFRαsignaling in lung cells, opening up for a better understanding of the role of PDGF signaling during lung development.
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Leonor
L
Gouveia
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.|Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.
Christer
C
Betsholtz
Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Johanna.andrae@igp.uu.se.
Johanna
J
Andrae
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D008222:Lymphokines; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; C411423:platelet-derived growth factor C; D020796:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
Lung; platelet‐derived growth factor; platelet‐derived growth factor receptors; signal transduction