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Updated: Oct 1, 2026
An Experimental System to Study Mechanotransduction in Fetal Lung Cells
Published on: February 16, 2012
Fibroblast mitogenic activity of lung lavage fluid from infants with chronic lung disease of prematurity
A E Currie1, M Kelly, J R Vyas
1Department of Child Health, University of Leicester, Leicester LE2 7LX, UK.
Insights
Fibroblast activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was similar across infant groups, with insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) only partially explaining mitogenic activity. Other growth factors significantly contribute to this process in premature infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal respiratory research
- Pulmonary medicine
- Cell biology
Background:
- Lung fibrosis is a suspected factor in chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD).
- Understanding fibroblast activity is crucial for neonatal lung health.
- Premature infants often face respiratory challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess fibroblast proliferative activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from infants with chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), and controls.
- To investigate the role of specific growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), in BALF mitogenic activity.
- To determine if differences in fibroblast activity correlate with specific neonatal lung conditions.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 207 BALF samples from 43 infants across CLD, RDS, and control groups.
- Measured fibroblast proliferative activity relative to fetal calf serum.
- Used neutralizing antibodies to identify the contribution of PDGF-BB and IGF-I to BALF mitogenic activity.
Main Results:
- Fibroblast proliferative activity was generally similar across CLD, RDS, and control groups in the first 5 weeks of life.
- A significant difference in activity was observed only at day 3, with higher activity in CLD and RDS groups compared to controls.
- IGF-I accounted for a small portion (11-14%) of the BALF mitogenic activity in CLD and RDS groups; PDGF-BB and epidermal growth factor were undetectable.
Conclusions:
- The overall mitogenic activity of BALF did not significantly differ between infant groups.
- IGF-I alone does not fully explain the mitogenic activity observed in BALF.
- Growth factors beyond PDGF-BB and IGF-I play a significant role in neonatal lung development and disease processes.
Background:
Lung fibrosis is thought to be important in chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD).
Methods:
Fibroblast proliferative activity was assessed in 207 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples from 43 infants. Sixteen developed CLD (birth weight 765 g (630-1230), gestation 26.5 weeks (23-29)), 18 developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (birth weight 1415 g (430-4160), gestation 31 weeks (23-39)), and nine control infants (birth weight 2110 g (900-3720), gestation 32 weeks (26-41)) received mechanical ventilation for non-pulmonary reasons.
Results:
The fibroblast proliferative activity relative to 10% fetal calf serum was 64-75% in infants with CLD, 55-86% in the RDS group, and 42-68% in control infants during the first 5 weeks of life. Only at day 3 was there a difference between the groups (CLD 72% v control 42%, p < 0.01; RDS 63% v control 42%, p < 0.05). With the use of neutralising antibodies, platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and epidermal growth factor were undetectable, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) accounted for 14% (p < 0.05) and 11% (p < 0.005) of BALF mitogenic activity from the RDS and CLD groups respectively.
Conclusions:
The mitogenic activity of BALF was similar in the three groups studied and was only partially accounted for by IGF-I. Growth factors other than PDGF-BB and IGF-I contribute significantly to this process.
