KGF and FGF-10 stimulate liquid secretion in human fetal lung

Pediatr Res. 1999 Nov;46(5):523-9. doi: 10.1203/00006450-199911000-00006.

Abstract

During fetal life, the pulmonary epithelium secretes liquid that distends the airways and is important for normal lung growth and development. The factors regulating human fetal lung liquid secretion are poorly understood; however, recent studies in murine models show that keratinocyte growth factor (KGF, FGF-7) and fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF-10) stimulate liquid secretion. We asked whether KGF and FGF-10 stimulate liquid secretion in human fetal lung. First trimester fetal lung explants developed dose-dependent increases in intraluminal volume in response to KGF and FGF-10. Although there were no acute changes in explant transepithelial potential difference in response to KGF (0.1-1000 ng/mL), exposure to 5-50 ng/mL KGF over 60 h depolarized transepithelial potential difference compared with controls. We used ribonuclease protection assays to quantitate the ontogeny and regulation of mRNA expression for KGF and its receptor. Both mRNA were expressed in fetal and postnatal lung. Because the promoter region of the human KGF gene contains cAMP and IL-6 response elements, we asked whether cAMP or IL-6 stimulated expression of KGF or its receptor. We have previously shown that cAMP stimulates liquid secretion in this model. Both cAMP and IL-6 significantly increased expression of KGF but not KGF receptor during a 48-h experiment. Thus, stimulation of liquid secretion in explant models by cAMP may be mediated in part by induction of KGF expression. KGF and FGF-10 may be important paracrine factors regulating liquid secretion in human fetal lung.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antigen-Antibody Reactions
  • Culture Techniques
  • Cyclic AMP / pharmacology
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development / drug effects
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 10
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 7
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / pharmacology*
  • Growth Substances / genetics
  • Growth Substances / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 / pharmacology
  • Keratinocytes*
  • Lung / drug effects*
  • Lung / embryology
  • Lung / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor*
  • Receptors, Growth Factor / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
  • Secretory Rate / drug effects
  • Stimulation, Chemical

Substances

  • FGF10 protein, human
  • FGF7 protein, human
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 10
  • Growth Substances
  • Interleukin-1
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • Receptors, Growth Factor
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 7
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2
  • keratinocyte growth factor receptor