Biologically active interleukin (IL)-1beta is present in the pulmonary edema fluid obtained from patients with acute lung injury and has been implicated as an important early mediator of nonpulmonary epithelial wound repair. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that IL-1beta would enhance wound repair in cultured monolayers from rat alveolar epithelial type II cells. IL-1beta (20 ng/ml) increase...

Type II pneumocytes are essential for repair of the injured alveolar epithelium. The effect of two MMP collagenases, MMP-1 and MMP-13 on alveolar epithelial repair was studied in vitro. The A549 alveolar epithelial cell line and primary rat alveolar epithelial cell cultures were used. Cell adhesion and cell migration were measured with and without exogenous MMP-1. Wound healing of a cell monola...

Alveolar epithelial regeneration is essential for resolution of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Although neutrophils have traditionally been considered mediators of epithelial damage, recent studies suggest they promote type II pneumocyte (AT2) proliferation, which is essential for regenerating alveolar epithelium. These studies did not, however, evaluate this relationship in an...

The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) develops when pulmonary vasodilatation leads to abnormal gas exchange. However, in human HPS, restrictive ventilatory defects are also observed supporting that the alveolar epithelial compartment may also be affected. Alveolar type II epithelial cells (AT2) play a critical role in maintaining the alveolar compartment by producing four surfactant proteins (SPs,...

Among the drug delivery and targeting (DDT) routes, lung alveolar epithelium has been given enormous attentions in terms of the delivery of a wide range of macromolecules such as gene- or protein-based nanopharmaceuticals. However, little is known about cellular modulation of lung transport characteristics by endogenous and/or exogenous agents. Thus, in the current study, impact of dexamethason...

Mycobacterium tuberculosis invades alveolar epithelial cells as well as macrophages. However, the role of alveolar epithelial cells in the host defense against M. tuberculosis remains unknown. In this study, we report that lipocalin 2 (Lcn2)-dependent inhibition of mycobacterial growth within epithelial cells is required for anti-mycobacterial innate immune responses. Lcn2 is secreted into the ...

Enhancing gene delivery and expression in alveolar epithelial cells could offer the opportunity for the treatment of acquired and inherited lung diseases. Here, we show that particle adsorption of human insulin (INS) is capable of increasing plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivery from polyethylenimine (PEI) nanoparticles specifically in alveolar epithelial cells. INS receptors were predominantly detected ...

BACKGROUND Chronic alcohol abuse causes oxidative stress and impairs alveolar epithelial barrier integrity, thereby rendering the lung susceptible to acute edematous injury. Experimentally, alcohol-induced oxidative stress increases the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) in the lung; however, we do not know the precise contribution of various alveolar cells in this process. In ...

Club cells (Clara cells) participate in bronchiolar wound repair and regeneration. Located in the bronchioles, they become activated during alveolar injury in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and migrate into the affected alveoli, a process called alveolar bronchiolisation. The purpose of this migration and the role of club cells in alveolar wound repair is controversial. This study was unde...

Among the drug delivery and targeting (DDT) routes, lung alveolar epithelium has been given enormous attentions in terms of the delivery of a wide range of macromolecules such as gene- or protein-based nanopharmaceuticals. However, little is known about cellular modulation of lung transport characteristics by endogenous and/or exogenous agents. Thus, in the current study, impact of dexamethason...