Ontogeny and regulation of platelet-derived growth factor gene expression in distal fetal rat lung epithelial cells

Using flow cytometry, thymidine uptake into DNA, and expression of two growth-related genes, histone 3 and c-myc, we found an increase in the proportion of distal lung epithelial cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle with advancing gestation. Since our previous studies had demonstrated that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is essential for the progression of these cells from the G0/G1 to the S phase of cell cycle, we investigated the gene and protein expression of PDGF-related genes (PDGF-A, PDGF-B, alpha-receptor, and beta-receptor) in distal fetal lung epithelial cells. The cells transcribed all the PDGF-related genes and translated the PDGF-A and PDGF-B mRNAs into protein, as demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation. To explore an autocrine role for PDGF in distal fetal lung epithelial cells, intervention studies using PDGF-A and -B chain-specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) were carried out. Antisense PDGF-B ODN, but not antisense PDGF-A ODN, significantly reduced the DNA synthesis of these cells. The inhibitory effect of antisense PDGF-B ODN on DNA synthesis was reversed by the addition of exogenous PDGF-BB, which supports an autocrine role in the DNA synthesis of these cells. We also examined the expression of PDGF genes in distal fetal lung epithelial cells during late gestation. PDGF-A chain and beta-receptor gene expressions declined with advancing gestation, whereas expression of message for PDGF-B chain and alpha-receptor increased. The increases in message for PDGF-B chain and alpha-receptor with advancing gestation were due to a greater rate of transcription, whereas the developmental decrease of PDGF-A chain and beta-receptor mRNAs was caused by a decrease in RNA stability. Taken together with the ODN data, these results suggest that the G0/G1 cell cycle arrest of distal lung epithelial cells during late fetal gestation is due to a decrease in PDGF beta-receptor expression by the cells.