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Expression patterns of laminin alpha1 and alpha5 in human lung during development
R A Pierce1, G L Griffin, J H Miner
1Divisions of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Renal Diseases, Department of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology
|December 6, 2000
Summary
Laminin alpha1 expression is limited to early human lung development, while laminin alpha5 is continuously present from early development through adulthood, indicating distinct roles in lung morphogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Laminins are crucial glycoproteins in basement membranes, composed of alpha, beta, and gamma chains.
- Previous research incorrectly identified laminin alpha1 in adult human lung basement membranes due to antibody cross-reactivity with laminin alpha5.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the temporal and spatial expression patterns of laminin alpha1 and laminin alpha5 during human lung development.
- To differentiate the roles of laminin alpha1 and laminin alpha5 in human lung morphogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Complementary DNA (cDNA) probes specific for laminin alpha1 and laminin alpha5 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were synthesized.
- Northern blot analysis was used to detect mRNA expression levels.
- Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were employed to determine protein and mRNA localization, respectively.
Main Results:
- Laminin alpha1 mRNA was abundant in first-trimester fetal lung but undetectable later in development.
- Laminin alpha5 mRNA was detected throughout fetal development and into the perinatal period.
- Immunohistochemistry confirmed laminin alpha1 presence only in early fetal lung, whereas laminin alpha5 was persistently expressed.
Conclusions:
- Laminin alpha1 expression is transient and specific to early human lung morphogenesis.
- Laminin alpha5 expression is continuous throughout human lung development, from the embryonic stage to adulthood.
- Laminin alpha1 and laminin alpha5 exhibit distinct expression profiles, suggesting divergent functions in human lung development.