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Pdgf-Ralpha Gene Expression Predicts Proliferation, But Pdgf-A Suppresses Transdifferentiation Of Neonatal Mouse Lung Myofibroblasts, P. Kimani, A. Holmes, Ruth Grossmann, S. Mcgowan
Pdgf-Ralpha Gene Expression Predicts Proliferation, But Pdgf-A Suppresses Transdifferentiation Of Neonatal Mouse Lung Myofibroblasts, P. Kimani, A. Holmes, Ruth Grossmann, S. Mcgowan
Ruth E. Grossmann
BACKGROUND: Platelet-derived growth factor A (PDGF-A) signals solely through PDGF-Ralpha, and is required for fibroblast proliferation and transdifferentiation (fibroblast to myofibroblast conversion) during alveolar development, because pdgfa-null mice lack both myofibroblasts and alveoli. However, these PDGF-A-mediated mechanisms remain incompletely defined. At postnatal days 4 and 12 (P4 and P12), using mouse lung fibroblasts, we examined (a) how PDGF-Ralpha correlates with ki67 (proliferation marker) or alpha-smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA, myofibroblast marker) expression, and (b) whether PDGF-A directly affects alphaSMA or modifies stimulation by transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta). METHODS: Using flow cytometry we examined PDGF-Ralpha, alphaSMA and Ki67 in mice which …