Alternative Progenitor Lineages Regenerate the Adult Lung Depleted of Alveolar Epithelial Type 2 Cells

• Published in: American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology Vol. 56; no. 4; pp. 453 - 464
• Main Authors: Yee, Min, Domm, William, Gelein, Robert, Bentley, Karen L de Mesy, Kottmann, R Matthew, Sime, Patricia J, Lawrence, B Paige, O'Reilly, Michael A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Thoracic Society 01.04.2017
• Subjects: Aging - metabolism; Alveolar Epithelial Cells - cytology; Alveolar Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Alveolar Epithelial Cells - metabolism; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cell Lineage - drug effects; Dentistry; Humans; Hyperoxia; Hypoxia; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - metabolism; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis - pathology; Infections; Influenza A virus; Keratin-5 - metabolism; Lung diseases; Lungs; Mice; Models, Biological; Morbidity; Original Research; Orthomyxoviridae; Oxygen - pharmacology; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C - metabolism; Regeneration - drug effects; Respiratory syncytial virus; Rodents; Stem cells; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - drug effects; Stem Cells - metabolism; Studies; Surfactants; Uteroglobin - metabolism; Viral infections; genetic lineage mapping; neonatal oxygen; stem cells; mice; influenza A virus
• ISSN: 1044-1549; 1535-4989
• DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2016-0150OC

An aberrant oxygen environment at birth increases the severity of respiratory viral infections later in life through poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we show that alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) 2 cells (AEC2s), progenitors for AEC1 cells, are depleted in adult mice exposed to neonatal hypoxia or hyperoxia. Airway cells expressing surfactant protein (SP)-C and ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 3, alveolar pod cells expressing keratin (KRT) 5, and pulmonary fibrosis were observed when these mice were infected with a sublethal dose of HKx31, H3N2 influenza A virus. This was not seen in infected siblings birthed into room air. Genetic lineage tracing studies in mice exposed to neonatal hypoxia or hyperoxia revealed pre-existing secretoglobin 1a1 cells produced airway cells expressing SP-C and ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 3. Pre-existing Kr5 progenitor cells produced squamous alveolar cells expressing receptor for advanced glycation endproducts, aquaporin 5, and T1α in alveoli devoid of AEC2s. They were not the source of KRT5 alveolar pod cells. These oxygen-dependent changes in epithelial cell regeneration and fibrosis could be recapitulated by conditionally depleting AEC2s in mice using diphtheria A toxin and then infecting with influenza A virus. Likewise, airway cells expressing SP-C and alveolar cells expressing KRT5 were observed in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. These findings suggest that alternative progenitor lineages are mobilized to regenerate the alveolar epithelium when AEC2s are severely injured or depleted by previous insults, such as an adverse oxygen environment at birth. Because these lineages regenerate AECs in spatially distinct compartments of a lung undergoing fibrosis, they may not be sufficient to prevent disease.