Epithelial β1 integrin is required for lung branching morphogenesis and alveolarization.

ABSTRACT: Integrin-dependent interactions between cells and extracellular matrix regulate lung development; however, specific roles for β1-containing integrins in individual cell types, including epithelial cells, remain incompletely understood. In this study, the functional importance of β1 integrin in lung epithelium during mouse lung development was investigated by deleting the integrin from E10.5 onwards using surfactant protein C promoter-driven Cre. These mutant mice appeared normal at birth but failed to gain weight appropriately and died by 4 months of age with severe hypoxemia. Defects in airway branching morphogenesis in association with impaired epithelial cell adhesion and migration, as well as alveolarization defects and persistent macrophage-mediated inflammation were identified. Using

SUBMITTER: Plosa EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4299273 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature