Role for mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 alpha in lung epithelial branching morphogenesis.

ABSTRACT: In the early stages of lung development, the endoderm undergoes extensive and stereotypic branching morphogenesis. During this process, a simple epithelial bud develops into a complex tree-like system of tubes specialized for the transport and exchange of gas with blood. The endodermal cells in the distal tips of the developing lung express a special set of genes, have a higher proliferation rate than proximal part, undergo shape change and initiate branching morphogenesis. In this study, we found that of the four p38 genes, only p38 alpha mRNA is localized specifically to the distal endoderm suggesting a role in the regulation of budding morphogenesis. Chemical inhibitors specific for the p38 alpha and p38 beta isoforms suppress budding of embryonic mouse lung explants and isolated endode

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2292818 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature