Challenging embryological theories on congenital diaphragmatic hernia: future therapeutic implications for paediatric...

Lung hypoplasia is central to the poor prognosis of babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Prolapse of abdominal organs through a diaphragmatic defect has traditionally been thought to impair lung growth by compression. The precise developmental biology of CDH remains unresolved. Refractory to fetal correction, lung hypoplasia in CDH may instead originate during embryogenesis and before visceral herniation. Resolving these conflicting hypotheses may lead to reappraisal of current clinical strategies. Genetic studies in murine models and the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster are elucidating the control of normal respiratory organogenesis. Branchless and breathless are Drosophila mutants lacking fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and its cognate receptor (FGFR), respectively. Sugarless and sulphateless mutants lack enzymes essential for heparan sulphate (HS) biosynthesis. Phenotypically, all these mutants share abrogated airway branching. Mammalian organ culture and transgenic models confirm the essential interaction of FGFs and HS during airway ramification. Embryonic airway development (branching morphogenesis) occurs in a defined spatiotemporal sequence. Unlike the surgically-created lamb model, the nitrofen rat model permits investigation of embryonic lung growth in CDH. Microdissecting embryonic lung primordia from the nitrofen CDH model and normal controls, we demonstrated that disruption of stereotyped airway branching correlates with and precedes subsequent CDH formation. To examine disturbed branching morphogenesis longitudinally, we characterised a system that preserves lung hypoplasia in organ culture. We tested FGFs and heparin (an HS analogue) as potential therapies on normal and hypoplastic lungs. Observing striking differences in morphological response to FGFs between normal and hypoplastic lung primordia, we postulated abnormalities of FGF/HS signalling in the embryonic CDH lung. Evaluating this hypothesis further, we examined effects of an HS-independent growth factor (epidermal growth factor, EGF) on hypoplastic lung development. Visible differences in morphological response indicate an intrinsic abnormality of hypoplastic lung primordia that may involve shared targets of FGFs and EGE. These studies indicate that lung hypoplasia precedes diaphragmatic hernia and may involve disturbances of mitogenic signalling pathways fundamental to embryonic lung development. What does this imply for human CDH? Fetal surgery may be 'too little, too late' to correct an established lung embryopathy. In utero growth factor therapy may permit antenatal lung rescue. Prevention of the birth defect by preconceptual prophylaxis may represent the ultimate solution.