OVEREXPRESSION OF PULMONARY SURFACTANT APOPROTEIN-A MESSENGER-RNA IN ALVEOLAR TYPE-II CELLS AND NONCILIATED BRONCHIOLAR (CLARA) EPITHELIAL-CELLS IN STREPTOZOTOCIN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS DEMONSTRATED BY INSITU HYBRIDIZATION

Pulmonary surfactant is critical for gas exchange and is composed of both phospholipids and specific surfactant-associated proteins. The most abundant surfactant protein is termed surfactant apoprotein A (SP-A). This protein is thought to be important in the formation of tubular myelin, in absorption of surfactant to the air-liquid interface, in recycling of surfactant in alveolar type II cells, and in the regulation of secretion. We have examined the expression and localization of SP-A mRNA in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by in situ hybridization using a specific rat cDNA probe. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. After 10 wk, lungs were excised and examined by in situ hybridization and by light and electron microscopy. The ultrastructural examination demonstrated the marked changes of endoplasmic reticulum of alveolar type II cells, as reported previously. Immunohistostaining of SP-A in diabetic lungs was weak in alveolar type II cells. However, by autoradiographs of in situ hybridization, compared with the control lungs, a larger number of silver grains for the SP-A mRNA were shown in alveolar type II cells and also in some bronchiolar epithelial (Clara) cells from the diabetic lungs. Alveolar type II cells having high contents of silver grains were also increased in number. These results were confirmed by measurement of the SP-A content and by Northern blot analysis. The present study demonstrates an overexpression of SP-A mRNA despite the ultrastructural changes in the endoplasmic reticulum of alveolar type II cells in the diabetic lungs, which will provide new information on the regulatory mechanism of SP-A gene expression. In situ hybridization may be a useful approach to evaluating the surfactant apoprotein gene expression in respiratory disorders.