Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
08:02
Isolation of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells from Neonatal Mice
Published on: October 19, 2013
Hyperoxia increases keratinocyte growth factor mRNA expression in neonatal rabbit lung
L Charafeddine1, C T D'Angio, J L Richards
1Department of Pediatrics, Strong Children's Research Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
The American Journal of Physiology
|January 14, 1999
Summary
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) mRNA expression increases before type II alveolar cell proliferation in newborn rabbits with hyperoxic lung injury, suggesting KGF
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Pulmonary medicine
- Cellular biology
Background:
- Acute hyperoxic lung injury is a significant factor in neonatal chronic lung disease.
- Type II alveolar epithelial cell proliferation is crucial for lung injury repair.
- Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is an epithelial-specific mitogen that stimulates type II cell proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate KGF mRNA expression in relation to type II cell proliferation during hyperoxic lung injury in newborn rabbits.
Main Methods:
- Newborn rabbits exposed to 100% oxygen for 9 days, followed by recovery in 60% oxygen.
- RT-PCR used to amplify KGF cDNA from whole lung RNA.
- Ribonuclease protection assay and phosphorimaging quantified KGF mRNA abundance.
- Proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunohistochemistry identified proliferating cells.
Main Results:
- KGF mRNA expression increased 12-fold after 6 days of hyperoxia and remained elevated.
- Type II cell proliferation increased after 8-12 days of hyperoxia.
- KGF mRNA expression preceded type II cell proliferation.
Conclusions:
- Increased whole lung KGF mRNA expression occurs before type II cell proliferation in hyperoxic lung injury.
- KGF may play a critical role as a mitogen in alveolar epithelial repair following hyperoxic lung injury.
