Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the most frequent pulmonary complication in preterm infants. RDS incidence differs between genders, which has been called the male disadvantage. Besides maturation of the surfactant system, Na+ transport driven alveolar fluid clearance is crucial for the prevention of RDS. Na+ transport is mediated by the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) and the Na,K-ATPase, therefore potential differences in their expression or activity possibly contribute to the gender imbalance observed in RDS. Fetal distal lung epithelial (FDLE) cells of rat fetuses were separated by sex and analyzed regarding expression and activity of the Na+ transporters. Ussing chamber experiments showed a higher baseline short-circuit current (ISC) and amiloride-sensitive ΔISC in FDLE cells of female origin. In addition, maximal amiloride-sensitive ΔISC and maximal ouabain-sensitive ΔISC of female cells were higher when measured in the presence of a permeabilized basolateral or apical membrane, respectively. The number of FDLE cells per fetus recoverable during cell isolation was also significantly higher in females. In addition, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio was lower in fetal and newborn female pups. Female derived FDLE cells had higher mRNA levels of the ENaC- and Na,K-ATPase subunits. Furthermore, estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA levels were higher in female cells, which might render female cells more responsive, while concentrations of placenta-derived sex steroids do not differ between both genders during fetal life. Inhibition of ER-β abolished the sex differences in Na+ transport and female cells were more responsive to estradiol stimulation. In conclusion, a higher alveolar Na+ transport, possibly attributable to a higher expression of hormone receptors in female FDLE cells, provides an explanation for the well known sex-related difference in RDS occurrence and outcome.

ABSTRACT:The effects of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) on alveolar epithelial Na ϩ transport were studied in isolated alveolar epithelial cells from 18-to 19-d GA rat fetuses, grown to confluence in serum-free media supplemented with E2 (0 -1 M) and P (0 -2.8 M). Short-circuit currents (I SC ) were measured, showing an increase by E2 and P in a dose-dependent manner. The Na,K-ATPase subunits -␣ 1 and -␤ 1 were detected by Western blotting, but total expression was not significantly altered. Furthermore, all three epithelial Na ϩ channel (ENaC) subunits -␣, -␤, and -␥ were detected, with trends toward a higher expression in the presence of E2 and P. Real-time PCR revealed an increase of ␣-and ␤-ENaC expression but no alteration of ␥-ENaC. In addition, the mRNA expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and Na,K-ATPase-␤ 1 subunit were elevated in the presence of E2 and P. Single-channel patch clamp analysis demonstrated putative highly selective and nonselective cation channels in the analyzed cells, with a higher percentage of responsive patches under the influence of E2 and P. We conclude that E2 and P increased Na ϩ transport in alveolar epithelial cells by enhancing the expression and activity of ENaC and Na,K-ATPase.

A sulfate-reducing bacterial consortium was enriched from an anoxic aquifer contaminated with BTEX compounds, using toluene as a growth substrate. Total cell counts, protein contents and sulfide production were determined to follow growth at the in situ temperature (14 degrees C) and at 25 degrees C, respectively. Community members were identified by 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 12 sequence types belonging to Deltaproteobacteria (several groups), Epsilonproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetaceae and an unclassified bacterial clade. The most prominent phylotype comprising 34% of all clones was affiliated to the Desulfobulbaceae and closely related to environmental clones retrieved from hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifers. Flow-cytometric methods were applied to analyze the community dynamics and to identify key organisms involved in toluene assimilation. Flow-cytometric measurement of DNA contents and scatter behavior served to detect and quantify dominant and newly emerging clusters of subcommunities. Up to seven subcommunities, two of them dominant, were distinguished. Cell sorting was used to facilitate the analysis of conspicuous clusters for phylogenetic identity by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiling of the 16S rRNA genes. The Desulfobulbaceae phylotype accounted for up to 87% in proliferating subcommunities, indicating that it represents the key organism of toluene degradation within this complex anaerobic consortium.

We investigated the mechanisms involved in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) following exposure of mice to halogens. Male mice (C57BL/6; 20–25 g) exposed to either bromine (Br2) or Cl2 (600 or 400 ppm, respectively, for 30 min) developed AHR 24 h after exposure. Nifedipine (5 mg/kg body wt; an L-type calcium channel blocker), administered subcutaneously after Br2 or Cl2 exposure, produced higher AHR compared with Br2 or Cl2 alone. In contrast, diltiazem (5 mg/kg body wt; a nondihydropyridine L-type calcium channel blocker) decreased AHR to control (air) values. Exposure of immortalized human airway smooth muscle cells (hASMC) to Br2 resulted in membrane potential depolarization ( Vm Air: 62 ± 3 mV; 3 h post Br2:−45 ± 5 mV; means ± 1 SE; P < 0.001), increased intracellular [Ca2+]i, and increased expression of the calcium-sensing receptor (Ca-SR) protein. Treatment of hASMC with a siRNA against Ca-SR significantly inhibited the Br2 and nifedipine-induced Vm depolarization and [Ca2+]i increase. Intranasal administration of an antagonist to Ca-SR in mice postexposure to Br2 reversed the effects of Br2 and nifedipine on AHR. Incubation of hASMC with low-molecular-weight hyaluronan (LMW-HA), generated by exposing high-molecular-weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA) to Br2, caused Vm depolarization, [Ca2+]i increase, and Ca-SR expression to a similar extent as exposure to Br2 and Cl2. The addition of HMW-HA to cells or mice exposed to Br2, Cl2, or LMW-HA reversed these effects in vitro and improved AHR in vivo. We conclude that detrimental effects of halogen exposure on AHR are mediated via activation of the Ca-SR by LMW-HA.

Background Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were shown to harbor therapeutic potential in models of respiratory diseases, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the most common sequel of preterm birth. In these studies, cells or animals were challenged with hyperoxia or other injury-inducing agents. However, little is known about the effect of MSCs on immature fetal lungs and whether MSCs are able to improve lung maturity, which may alleviate lung developmental arrest in BPD. Methods We aimed to determine if the conditioned medium (CM) of MSCs stimulates functional and structural lung maturation. As a measure of functional maturation, Na+ transport in primary fetal distal lung epithelial cells (FDLE) was studied in Ussing chambers. Na+ transporter and surfactant protein mRNA expression was determined by qRT-PCR. Structural maturation was assessed by microscopy in fetal rat lung explants. Results MSC-CM strongly increased the activity of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) and the Na,K-ATPase as well as their mRNA expression. Branching and growth of fetal lung explants and surfactant protein mRNA expression were enhanced by MSC-CM. Epithelial integrity and metabolic activity of FDLE cells were not influenced by MSC-CM. Since MSC’s actions are mainly attributed to paracrine signaling, prominent lung growth factors were blocked. None of the tested growth factors (VEGF, BMP, PDGF, EGF, TGF-β, FGF, HGF) contributed to the MSC-induced increase of Na+ transport. In contrast, inhibition of PI3-K/AKT and Rac1 signaling reduced MSC-CM efficacy, suggesting an involvement of these pathways in the MSC-CM-induced Na+ transport. Conclusion The results demonstrate that MSC-CM strongly stimulated functional and structural maturation of the fetal lungs. These effects were at least partially mediated by the PI3-K/AKT and Rac1 signaling pathway. Thus, MSCs not only repair a deleterious tissue environment, but also target lung cellular immaturity itself.