This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 200303-371OCv1 168/12/1532    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sirianni, F. E. Articles by Walker, D. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sirianni, F. E. Articles by Walker, D. C.

Human Alveolar Wall Fibroblasts Directly Link Epithelial Type 2 Cells to Capillary Endothelium

iCAPTUR⁴E Center, McDonald Research Laboratories and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to David C. Walker, iCAPTUR⁴E Center, McDonald Research Laboratories, Room 166 Burrard Building, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6 Canada. E-mail: dwalker{at}mrl.ubc.ca

Alveolar wall fibroblasts directly link type 2 (T2) pneumocytes to capillary endothelium through apertures in their respective basal laminae in rabbit lung. These fibroblasts provide a bridge from the capillary to the airway lumen along which leukocytes may migrate without disrupting extracellular matrix. Normal human lungs were examined by transmission electron microscopy and serial section 3D reconstruction. We found contacts between fibroblasts and T2 pneumocytes and between fibroblasts and type 1 pneumocytes that occur at holes in the epithelial basal lamina. The same fibroblast also made contact with pericytes and endothelial cells through similar apertures. A survey of 41 T2 pneumocytes revealed that 54% of T2 pneumocytes had at least one gap in their basal lamina. A morphometric analysis showed these gaps occupied approximately 5.58 ± 1.51% (mean ± SE) of the area underneath T2 pneumocytes. We conclude that a population of single fibroblasts link T2 pneumocytes to adjacent capillary endothelial cells in alveolar walls of human lung. We propose that fibroblasts are organized to maintain communication between epithelium and mesenchyme and to provide directional information to migrating leukocytes.

Key Words: leukocyte migration • transmission electron microscopy • 3D reconstruction • heterotypic cellular contacts

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. J. Giordano, J. Lahdenranta, L. Zhen, U. Chukwueke, I. Petrache, R. R. Langley, I. J. Fidler, R. Pasqualini, R. M. Tuder, and W. Arap Targeted Induction of Lung Endothelial Cell Apoptosis Causes Emphysema-like Changes in the Mouse J. Biol. Chem., October 24, 2008; 283(43): 29447 - 29460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. U. Azeloglu, J. Bhattacharya, and K. D. Costa Atomic force microscope elastography reveals phenotypic differences in alveolar cell stiffness J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2008; 105(2): 652 - 661. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Quesnel, S. Marchand-Adam, A. Fabre, J. Marchal-Somme, I. Philip, S. Lasocki, V. Lecon, B. Crestani, and M. Dehoux Regulation of hepatocyte growth factor secretion by fibroblasts in patients with acute lung injury Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, February 1, 2008; 294(2): L334 - L343. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Tuder, T. Yoshida, I. Fijalkowka, S. Biswal, and I. Petrache Role of Lung Maintenance Program in the Heterogeneity of Lung Destruction in Emphysema Proceedings of the ATS, November 1, 2006; 3(8): 673 - 679. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Henson, R. W. Vandivier, and I. S. Douglas Cell Death, Remodeling, and Repair in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease? Proceedings of the ATS, November 1, 2006; 3(8): 713 - 717. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Kelly, R. Leigh, S. E. Gilpin, E. Cheng, G. E. M. Martin, K. Radford, G. Cox, and J. Gauldie Cell-specific Gene Expression in Patients with Usual Interstitial Pneumonia Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 2006; 174(5): 557 - 565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. Tuder, T. Yoshida, W. Arap, R. Pasqualini, and I. Petrache State of the Art. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Alveolar Destruction in Emphysema: An Evolutionary Perspective Proceedings of the ATS, August 1, 2006; 3(6): 503 - 510. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. E. Sirianni, A. Milaninezhad, F. S. F. Chu, and D. C. Walker Alteration of Fibroblast Architecture and Loss of Basal Lamina Apertures in Human Emphysematous Lung Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 15, 2006; 173(6): 632 - 638. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Selman and A. Pardo Role of epithelial cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: from innocent targets to serial killers. Proceedings of the ATS, January 1, 2006; 3(4): 364 - 372. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. J. Tobin Tuberculosis, Lung Infections, Interstitial Lung Disease, Social Issues and Journalology in AJRCCM 2003 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 15, 2004; 169(2): 288 - 300. [Full Text] [PDF]