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Fas expression in pulmonary alveolar type II cells
A Fine1, N L Anderson, T L Rothstein
1Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
The American Journal of Physiology
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Fas receptor signaling induces apoptosis in alveolar type II cells, the lung
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Fas (APO-1/CD95) is a receptor mediating apoptosis.
- Limited data suggest Fas involvement in non-lymphoid epithelial progenitor cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate Fas expression and function in alveolar type II cells, the lung's epithelial progenitor cells.
- To determine if Fas-mediated apoptosis regulates alveolar epithelial turnover.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis of primary rat type II cells.
- In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry on mouse lung tissue.
- Apoptosis induction in mouse lung type II epithelial cells (MLE) and in vivo models.
Main Results:
- Fas gene expression confirmed in primary type II cells.
- Fas expression restricted to a subset of alveolar type II cells in normal mouse lungs.
- Fas activation induced apoptosis in MLE cells and in vivo type II cell subpopulations.
Conclusions:
- Alveolar type II cells express functional Fas.
- Fas-dependent apoptosis plays a role in regulating alveolar epithelial cell turnover.