Wild-type levels of the mouse Forkhead Box f1 gene are essential for lung repair

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2002 Jun;282(6):L1253-65. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00463.2001.

Abstract

The Forkhead Box (Fox) family of transcription factors plays important roles in regulating expression of genes involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation. In a previous study, we showed that newborn foxf1(+/-) mice with diminished Foxf1 levels exhibited abnormal formation of pulmonary alveoli and capillaries and died postnatally. Interestingly, surviving newborn foxf1(+/-) mice exhibited increased pulmonary Foxf1 levels and normal adult lung morphology, suggesting that wild-type Foxf1 levels are required for lung development and function. The present study was conducted to determine whether adult foxf1(+/-) mice were able to undergo lung repair similar to that observed in wild-type mice. We demonstrated that adult foxf1(+/-) mice died from severe lung hemorrhage after butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) lung injury and that this phenotype was associated with a 10-fold decrease in pulmonary Foxf1 expression and increased alveolar endothelial cell apoptosis that disrupted capillary integrity. Furthermore, BHT-induced lung hemorrhage of adult foxf1(+/-) mice was associated with a drastic reduction in expression of the Flk-1, bone morphogenetic protein-4, surfactant protein B, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule, and vascular endothelial cadherin genes, whereas the expression of these genes was either transiently diminished or increased in wild-type lungs after BHT injury. Because these proteins are critical for lung morphogenesis and endothelial homeostasis, their decreased mRNA levels are likely contributing to BHT-induced lung hemorrhage in foxf1(+/-) mice. Collectively, our data suggest that sustained expression of Foxf1 is essential for normal lung repair and endothelial cell survival in response to pulmonary cell injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34 / biosynthesis
  • Apoptosis
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene
  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Disease Progression
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / pathology
  • Heterozygote
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases / chemically induced
  • Lung Diseases / complications
  • Lung Diseases / metabolism*
  • Lung Diseases / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phenotype
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / biosynthesis
  • Proteolipids / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Alveoli / pathology
  • Pulmonary Surfactants / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
  • Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34
  • Bmp4 protein, mouse
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Cadherins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxf1 protein, mouse
  • Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Proteolipids
  • Pulmonary Surfactants
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Growth Factor
  • Transcription Factors
  • cadherin 5
  • Butylated Hydroxytoluene
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor