Inhibition of alveolarization and altered pulmonary mechanics in mice expressing GATA-6

GATA-6, a member of a family of zinc finger transcription factors, is expressed in epithelial cells of the developing lung. To further assess the role of GATA-6 in lung morphogenesis, GATA-6 was expressed in respiratory epithelial cells of the developing mouse lung under control of the surfactant protein C promoter (hSP-CGATA-6 mice). Although GATA-6 did not alter lung morphology at embryonic day 18.5, defects in alveolar septation were observed early in the neonatal period, and air space enlargement persisted to adulthood. Airway resistance, airway elastance, tissue damping, and tissue elastance were significantly decreased, and lung volumes were significantly increased at 12 wk of age. Normal postnatal morphogenesis of the lung depends upon precise temporal-spatial regulation of GATA-6.