Abstract
During the process of organogenesis lung mesenchyme affects the differentiation of the epithelium in an organ-specific fashion. In the present study we examined whether mesenchymal-epithelial interactions also play an important role in epithelial cell growth. We found that the mesenchyme elaborates a factor which stimulates the proliferation of fetal Type II cells. The production of the factor by the mesenchyme was organ-specific, agedependent but inhibited by glucocorticosteroids. Incubation of quiescent Type II cells with competence (PDGF) and progression (EGF + SMC, platelet poor plasma) factors in the presence or absence of fibroblast derived mitogen revealed that fetal lung fibroblasts produce a competence growth factor (FPGF: Fibroblast Pneumonocyte Growth Factor) which is capable of acting on adjacent epithelial Type II cells. These results indicate that cellular interactions within the lung influence its growth as well as its differentiation during fetal life.
This study supported by grants from the ALA and NIH-HL-33069.
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Post, M., Stiles, A. & Smith, B. 302 Fetal Lung Cells: A Paracrine Competence Growth Factor Active on Type II Cells. Pediatr Res 19, 161 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00332
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00332
