Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-0022, Japan
Shigeyuki Shichino
Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-0022, Japan
Satoshi Ueha
Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-0022, Japan
Takuya Nakajima
Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-0022, Japan
Shinichi Hashimoto
Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-0022, Japan; Department of Integrative Medicine for Longevity, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan
Satoshi Yamazaki
Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
Kouji Matsushima
Department of Molecular Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Division of Molecular Regulation of Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Research Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda 278-0022, Japan; Corresponding author
Summary: Lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts are key cell populations in lung development. Fibroblasts support type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC2) in the developing and mature lung. However, fibroblast-AEC2 interactions have not been clearly described. We addressed this in the present study by time course serial analysis of gene expression sequencing (SAGE-seq) of epithelial cells and fibroblasts of developing and mature murine lungs. We identified lung fibroblast-epithelial interactions that potentially regulate alveologenesis and are mediated by fibroblast-expressed ligands and epithelial cell surface receptors. In the epithelial-fibroblast co-culture alveolosphere formation assay, single intervention against fibroblast-expressed ligand or associated signaling cascades promoted or inhibited alveolosphere growth. Adding the ligand-associated molecules fibroblast growth factor 7 and Notch ligand and inhibitors of bone morphogenetic protein 4, transforming growth factor β, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β to the culture medium enabled fibroblast-free alveolosphere formation. The results revealed the essential factors regulating fibroblast-AEC2 interactions. : Molecular Interaction; Developmental Biology; Transcriptomics Subject Areas: Molecular Interaction, Developmental Biology, Transcriptomics
