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Updated: Sep 2, 2025

Phenotyping Mouse Pulmonary Function In Vivo with the Lung Diffusing Capacity
Published on: January 6, 2015
Deficiency in DDR1 Induces Pulmonary Hypertension and Impaired Alveolar Development
Quinn A Bonafiglia1,2, Yu-Qing Zhou2, Guangpei Hou1,2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is crucial for lung development and alveolarization. DDR1 deficiency in mice leads to pulmonary hypertension and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, highlighting its role in preventing these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Developmental biology
- Pulmonary medicine
Background:
- Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe condition often linked to right ventricular failure.
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in infants can cause secondary PH and high mortality.
- The role of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) in lung development and PH is not understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of DDR1 in lung development.
- To determine if DDR1 deficiency contributes to pulmonary hypertension and BPD pathogenesis.
- To explore the mechanisms by which DDR1 influences alveolar epithelial cells.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse model with DDR1 deletion (Ddr1 mice).
- Conducted pathological analysis of lung tissue for alveolar development and vascular changes.
- Performed gene expression analysis to assess alveologenesis and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers.
- Conducted in vitro mechanistic studies on alveolar epithelial cells.
Main Results:
- DDR1-deficient mice exhibited increased mortality (35%) between 1-4 months of age.
- DDR1 deficiency led to reduced right ventricular contractility and distal pulmonary artery muscularization, indicative of PH.
- Impaired alveolar development, characterized by enlarged alveolar spaces, was observed in Ddr1 mice.
- Reduced expression of alveologenesis factors and EMT markers was found in Ddr1 mice.
- In vitro studies confirmed DDR1's role in mediating EMT, migration, and growth of alveolar epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
- DDR1 plays a critical role in mediating alveolarization during lung development.
- DDR1 deficiency results in a novel mouse model of spontaneous PH and BPD.
- Targeting DDR1 may offer therapeutic potential for lung development disorders and PH.
Abstract:
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a multifaceted condition characterized by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, which can result in right ventricular dysfunction and failure. Disorders of lung development can present with secondary PH, which is a leading cause of mortality in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). DDR1 (discoidin domain receptor 1) is a collagen-binding receptor that regulates tissue fibrosis and inflammation and controls cellular growth and migration. However, the roles of DDR1 in lung development or the pathogenesis of PH are unknown. Studying mice with a DDR1 deletion (Ddr1), we have noted 35% mortality between 1 and 4 months of age, and we demonstrate that DDR1 deficiency results in reduced right ventricular contractility and muscularization of distal pulmonary arteries, consistent with PH. Pathology analysis revealed enlarged alveolar spaces in Ddr1 mice by Postnatal Day 7, consistent with impaired alveolar development. Gene expression analysis showed that Ddr1 mice have reduced concentrations of alveologenesis factors and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers. Mechanistic studies in vitro confirmed that DDR1 mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, migration, and growth of alveolar epithelial cells. Taken together, these data suggest that DDR1 plays important roles mediating alveolarization during lung development. Our studies also describe a new model of spontaneous PH and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in mice.
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