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Type I and III collagen protein precursors and mRNA in the developing human lung

Riitta Kaarteenaho-Wiik1, Paavo Pääkkö, Riitta Herva

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000 (Kajaanintie 50), FIN-90014 Oulu, Finland. Riitta.Kaarteenaho-Wiik@oulu.fi

The Journal of Pathology
|April 20, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Collagen types I and III are crucial in lung development and disease. Their expression increases in alveolar walls in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, produced by myofibroblast-like cells.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • Extracellular matrix proteins, including collagens, are vital for lung development (ontogenesis) and scar tissue formation (fibrogenesis).
  • Understanding collagen expression patterns is key to comprehending lung maturation and disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of precursor proteins and mRNA for collagen types I and III.
  • To analyze these collagens during human lung development (12-40 weeks gestation) and in neonatal lung disorders: respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Main Methods:

  • Autopsy-obtained lung tissues from 60 non-malformed cases.
  • Immunohistochemistry to detect precursor proteins.
  • mRNA in situ hybridization to localize gene expression in 24 cases.

Main Results:

  • Collagen I and III precursor proteins and mRNA were consistently found in pulmonary arteries and veins throughout development.
  • Expression of these collagens significantly increased within alveolar walls in cases of RDS and BPD.
  • Associated cells in affected alveolar walls exhibited alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and desmin.
  • Collagen expression was also noted in pleura, bronchi, bronchioles, and around chondrocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Collagens I and III exhibit similar expression patterns around various lung cell types during development and in disease.
  • Increased collagen expression in alveolar walls is a feature of RDS and BPD.
  • Myofibroblast-like cells in alveoli appear to be a source of collagen mRNA in these conditions.

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