Maternal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke alters Clara cell secretory protein expression in fetal rat lung
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Published on: February 21, 2011
1Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Insights
Maternal exposure to aged and diluted sidestream cigarette smoke (ADSS) significantly increases fetal expression of Clara cell 10-kDa protein (CC10) and its mRNA in developing rat lungs by day 21. This indicates in utero smoke exposure impacts lung development.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Developmental Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Previous studies showed aged and diluted sidestream cigarette smoke (ADSS) affects postnatal lung development.
- Clara cell 10-kDa protein (CC10) and its mRNA are key markers for Clara cell differentiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of maternal ADSS exposure on fetal Clara cell development in rats.
- To assess the expression of CC10 and CC10 mRNA as indicators of Clara cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized immunohistochemistry, Northern blots, and in situ hybridization.
- Analyzed CC10 and CC10 mRNA abundance and distribution at gestational days 14, 18, and 21.
- Compared fetal lung development in ADSS-exposed versus control groups.
Main Results:
- CC10 and CC10 mRNA were undetectable at gestational day 14, detectable at day 18, and increased by day 21 in control fetuses.
- Maternal ADSS exposure significantly elevated fetal CC10 and CC10 mRNA expression by gestational day 21.
- No significant effect of ADSS exposure was observed on gestational days 14 or 18.
Conclusions:
- In utero exposure to ADSS alters the normal developmental expression patterns of CC10 in fetal rat lungs.
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy may have significant consequences for fetal lung maturation.
- CC10 serves as a sensitive marker for evaluating the effects of environmental exposures on lung development.
Abstract:
We have previously demonstrated that aged and diluted sidestream cigarette smoke (ADSS) alters the development of bronchiolar epithelial cells in postnatal animals (C. M. Ji, C. G. Plopper, H. P. Witschi, and K. E. Pinkerton. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 11: 312-320, 1994). This study was designed to examine the effects of maternal exposure to ADSS on the development of fetal Clara cells in rats with Clara cell 10-kDa protein (CC10; also designated Clara cell secretory protein) and CC10 mRNA as differentiation markers. Immunohistochemistry, Northern blots, and in situ hybridization were used to determine the abundance and distribution of CC10 at gestational days 14, 18, and 21. CC10 and CC10 mRNA were absent at gestational day 14 but were detectable at gestational day 18 and further increased by gestational day 21. Maternal exposure to ADSS was found to significantly increase fetal expression of CC10 and CC10 mRNA by gestational day 21 but not by gestational day 14 or 18. These findings demonstrate that in utero exposure to ADSS alters the normal developmental expression of CC10 in the fetal rat lung.
