Efect of keratinocyte growth factor on growth and transdiferentiation of primary alveolar epithelial type II cells

Abstract

Background/aim: To investigate the efects of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) on the growth and transdiferentiation of primaryalveolar epithelial type II cells (AECIIs).Materials and methods: Te number of primary AECIIs, their viability, and cell cycle and apoptosis were studied under KGF treatmentusing a hemocytometer, trypan blue exclusion, and fow cytometry, respectively. Positive expressions of surfactant protein C (SP-C),aquaporin 5 (AQP5), and thyroid transcription factor 1(TTF-1) were examined with indirect immunofuorescence; mRNA levels of SP-C, AQP5 , and TTF-1 were determined by polymerase chain reaction.Results: In response to KGF treatment, cell numbers were signifcantly increased, more cells were blocked in the S phase, and fewercells were apoptotic or necrotic on days 2 and 4, but there was little efect on cell viability. In addition, KGF treatment resulted in higherlevels of SP-C on days 2 and 8 while lowering them on day 4, higher levels of AQP5 on day 4 while lowering them on day 8, and higherlevels of TTF-1 on days 2, 6, and 8.Conclusion: KGF treatment promoted proliferation of AECIIs, inhibited cell apoptosis, promoted transdiferentiation of AECIIs, andinduced alveolar epithelial type I cells to revert to AECIIs.