Characterization and comparison of the role of beta-agonists on in vivo and in vitro surfactant-related phospholipid synthesis and secretion by fetal rabbit lung and isolated type II alveolar cells

Influence of strain on [3H]thymidine incorporation, surfactant-related phospholipid synthesis, and cAMP levels in fetal type II alveolar cells

Episodic fetal breathing movements occur in utero; however, their purpose is not known. While some evidence indicates these movements produce distention of the fetal lung, the effects of eliminating the movements on lung development are not clear. Using preparations of the surfactant-producing fetal rabbit lung type II cells, we have examined the hypothesis that distention is involved in maturation of these cells as determined by replication rate and phospholipid synthesis. Differentiating type II cells were isolated from fetal rabbit lungs on gestational day 24. After allowing 24 h for the cells to attach, distention (10%) was applied using a Flexercell apparatus at a rate of 3 s of strain and 57 s of rest for 24 or 48 h. Cells were concurrently incubated with [3H]thymidine. Autoradiography showed that [3H]thymidine-labeled nuclei of fetal type II cells and fibroblasts could be identified. Strain significantly increased incorporation of the radioisotope into DNA. In the remaining studies, cells were grown to confluence prior to use. Cell viability after straining (3 or 50 cycles per minute [cpm] for 48 h) was assessed by incubating with diacetyl fluorescein/ethidium bromide and viewing by fluorescence microscopy. Straining did not alter cellular viability. Lactate dehydrogenase was also assayed in the culture medium. Straining did not cause release of lactate dehydrogenase. Ultrastructural examination showed typical cellular appearance in the strained cells. Extracellular lamellar body material was also observed. The incorporation of [3H]choline (3 or 50 cpm) into cellular phospholipids was measured under static conditions or under distention. [3H]choline-labeling of phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine was significantly increased by distention at either 3 or 50 cpm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phosphatidylcholine synthesis, secretion, and reutilization during differentiation of the surfactant-producing type II alveolar cell from fetal rabbit lungs

Evidence indicates that pulmonary pool sizes of choline and related intermediates available for synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, the major component of the surfactant, change during gestation. Furthermore, recent data suggest that the type II lung cells that produce the surfactant potentially can reutilize components of this material. However, the relationship of the de novo synthetic mechanism to the secretion and reutilization of phosphatidylcholine has not been established. This is particularly true in the case of the fetal lung where, although alterations in precursor pool sizes, including choline, have been demonstrated, few or no data are available concerning how phosphatidylcholine synthesis affects or is affected by secretion and reutilization of this phospholipid by fetal type II cells. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of availability of choline on de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine by isolated fetal rabbit type II cells during the differentiation process. In addition, differentiating type II alveolar cells were used to examine the hypothesis that these cells incorporate phospholipid from the extracellular environment and the quantity and/or composition of this phospholipid differently affects cellular secretion or de novo phosphatidylcholine synthesis. Assuming that the cells did not discriminate between radioactive and nonradioactive choline, elevation of extracellular choline increased the synthesis of cellular phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine in a dose-dependent manner to 0.08 mM choline. Cells induced to differentiated by exposure to fibroblast-conditioned medium synthesized more total and disaturated phosphatidylcholine at all extracellular choline concentrations. Incubation of the fetal type II cells with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine or 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine significantly depressed the incorporation of [3H]choline into cellular phosphatidylcholine after 24 or 48 h, but not necessarily at both times. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine depressed the secretion of [3H]choline-labeled phosphatidylcholine after incubation for 24 h. 1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine stimulated the secretion of tritium-labeled phosphatidylcholine at a concentration of 25 micrograms/mL after 48 h. Comparison of the phospholipid effect by incubating the cells with 50 ng of 14C-labeled phospholipid for 24 h showed that 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine significantly reduced the synthesis of 3H-labeled phosphatidylcholine compared to dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. In contrast, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine stimulated secretion of 3H-labeled phosphatidylcholine compared with the disaturated moiety. The differentiation state of the cells altered the magnitude of the cellular secretion response but not the character.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

GTP-related effects and binding by differentiating fetal rabbit type II alveolar cells in vitro

Type II alveolar cells were isolated from fetal rabbit lungs and used to determine the effect of GTP-binding protein activation on release of surfactant-related material. Cells were prelabelled with [3H]choline for 24 hours. NaF, a G-protein activator and GTP gamma S, a nonhydrolysable analogue of GTP, both loaded by hypoosmotic shock treatment, stimulated release of radioactive disaturated phosphatidylcholine. Localization of the cellular binding of [alpha-32P]GTP in fetal type II cells which were induced to differentiate by exposure to fetal lung fibroblast conditioned medium showed that two proteins of apparent molecular weights of 39.6 kd and 17.9 kd bound [alpha-32P]GTP. These proteins were detected only in the cells exposed to the conditioned medium. These results suggest GTP-binding proteins are involved in DSPC secretion and differentiation of fetal type II cells is accompanied by changes in GTP binding characteristics.