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Hypoxic conditions promote a proliferative, poorly differentiated phenotype in COPD lung tissue progenitor cells in vitro

Dale, Tina P.

Hypoxic conditions promote a proliferative, poorly differentiated phenotype in COPD lung tissue progenitor cells in vitro Thumbnail


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Abstract

PURPOSE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients experience hypoxemia and lung tissue hypoxia, causing vasoconstriction, and at its most severe Cor pulmonale. However, minimal attention has been given to the effects of hypoxia at the cellular level. We hypothesize that a persistent progenitor cell population undergoes an aberrant differentiation process, influenced by changes in oxygen. METHODS: Distal lung progenitor cells from two emphysematous donors were cultured in 21% and 2% oxygen. Proliferation was determined on collagen-coated plastic and in 3T3-J2 co-culture. Epithelial (E-cadherin, pan-cytokeratin) and progenitor (TP63, cytokeratin 5) marker expressions were examined. Cells were differentiated at air-liquid interface, and ciliated, mucus-producing, and club cell populations identified by immunofluorescence. MUC5AC, MUC5B, CC10, and TP63 expression were determined using qRT-PCR, mucin5AC, and mucin5B protein levels by ELISA, and secreted mucin by periodic acid biotin hydrazide assay. RESULTS: Cells were positive for epithelial and progenitor markers at isolation and passage 5. Passage 5 cells in hypoxia increased the proportion of TP63 by 10% from 51.6?±?1.2% to 62.6?±?2.3% (p?=?0.01). Proliferative capacity was greater on 3T3J2 cells and in 2% oxygen, supporting the emergence of a proliferation unrestricted population with limited differentiation capacity. Differentiation resulted in ßIV tubulin positive-ciliated cells, mucin5AC, mucin5B, and CC10 positive secretory cells. Epithelial barrier formation was reduced (p?=?0.0001) in hypoxia-expanded cells. qRT-PCR showed higher mucin expression in 2% cells, significantly so with MUC5B (p?=?0.05). Although overall mucin5AC and mucin5B content was greater in 21% cells, normalization of secreted mucin to DNA showed a trend for increased mucin by low oxygen cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that hypoxia promotes a proliferative phenotype while affecting subsequent progenitor cell differentiation capacity. Furthermore, the retained differentiation potential becomes skewed to a more secretory phenotype, demonstrating that hypoxia may be contributing to disease symptoms and severity in COPD patients.

Citation

Dale, T. P., Santer, M. D., Haris, M., Zuo, W., & Forsyth, N. R. (2023). Hypoxic conditions promote a proliferative, poorly differentiated phenotype in COPD lung tissue progenitor cells in vitro. Experimental Lung Research, 49(1), 12-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/01902148.2022.2158404

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 8, 2022
Online Publication Date Jan 19, 2023
Publication Date Jan 19, 2023
Publicly Available Date May 30, 2023
Journal Experimental Lung Research
Print ISSN 0190-2148
Publisher Taylor and Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 49
Issue 1
Pages 12-26
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/01902148.2022.2158404
Keywords Clinical Biochemistry, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Molecular Biology
Publisher URL https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01902148.2022.2158404

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