Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells and Their Microenvironment in the Caveolin-1-Deficient Mouse

作者：Jung Kristina; Schlenz Heike; Krasteva Gabriela; Muehlfeld Christian

来源：Anatomical Record-Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology, 2012, 295(2): 196-200.

DOI：10.1002/ar.21543

• caveolin-1
• caveolae
• Type II cells
• electron microscopy
• stereology

Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) is highly expressed in alveolar epithelial type I (AE1) and endothelial cells of the alveolar region of the lung. Interestingly, alveolar epithelial type II (AE2) cells that are progenitors of the AE1 cells do not express Cav-1. We investigated whether genetic Cav-1 deficiency alters the phenotype of AE2 cells and their microenvironment using stereology. Total number, mean volume, and subcellular composition of the AE2 cells were not altered in Cav-1-/- when compared with wild-type mice. The alveolar septa were thickened and contained a significantly greater volume of extracellular matrix. Thus, AE2 cells as progenitors of AE1 cells are not critically involved in the severe pulmonary phenotype in Cav-1-deficient mice. Anat Rec, 2012.

• 出版日期2012-2