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¹ Department of Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia

Fetal lung growth is critically dependent on the degree to which the lungs are expanded by liquid, although the mechanisms involved are unknown. As thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) can regulate cell proliferation, attachment, spreading and angiogenesis, we investigated the effects of alterations in fetal lung expansion on TSP-1 expression in sheep. TSP-1 mRNA levels were investigated using Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization, whereas the protein levels were determined by immunohistochemistry. Early growth response 1 (EGR1) mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. TSP-1 was expressed in type-II alveolar epithelial cells and fibroblasts and its mRNA levels increased from 100.0 ± 14.0% in control fetuses to 347.5 ± 73.6% at 36 h of increased lung expansion (P < 0.05), and were reduced to 39.4 ± 6.1% of control levels (100.0 ± 20.4%) at 20 days of decreased lung expansion (P < 0.05). The percentage of cells positive for TSP-1 mRNA increased from 1.9 ± 0.4% to 5.2 ± 0.8% at 36 h of increased fetal lung expansion (P < 0.01). The proportion of tissue stained positive for TSP-1 protein doubled at 36 h of increased lung expansion (23.3 ± 2.2%) compared to controls (11.7 ± 3.2%; P < 0.05). Conversely, at 20 days of decreased lung expansion, the percentage of tissue that stained positive for TSP-1 was halved (25.7 ± 3.2%) compared to controls (39.8 ± 3.3%; P < 0.05). The increase in TSP-1 expression may be due to increased mRNA levels of the transcription factor EGR1 at 36 h of increased lung expansion (2.7 ± 0.7-fold of control levels (1.0 ± 0.2); P < 0.05). Given the known functions of TSP-1 and its localization within the lung, we speculate that TSP-1 may have a significant role in regulating fetal lung growth.

(Received 15 June 2007; accepted after revision 14 August 2007; first published online 16 August 2007)
Corresponding author F. Sozo: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, PO Box 13C, Monash University, VIC 3800, Australia. Email: foula.sozo{at}med.monash.edu.au

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