Beckmann A, Grissmer A, Meier C, Tschernig T. Intercellular communication between alveolar epithelial cells and macrophages.
Ann Anat 2019;
227:151417. [PMID:
31563569 DOI:
10.1016/j.aanat.2019.151417]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The alveolus in the lung tissue is an extremely vulnerable site. Alveolar macrophages control this micro-environment both in states of health and illnesssuch as acute lung injury and infection. It has been reported in mice in vivo that intercellular communication between alveolar macrophages and alveolar epithelial cells is mediated by gap junctions. However, little is known about thismicro-environment in human cells.
METHODS
Since this gap junctional intercellular communication is hard to investigate in human tissues, a co-culture model of two human cell lines, one of epithelial and one of macrophage origin, was used. Immunoblot analysis, freeze fracture replica immunolabeling and electron microscopy were performed.
RESULTS
Connexin (Cx) 43 protein expression as well as ultrastructurally defined Cx43 gap junctions were detected in co-cultures, yielding evidence of intercellular gap junctions between human alveolar cells of two distinct entities.
CONCLUSION
Alveolar macrophages possibly have direct access to the alveolar epithelium via gap junctions in humans, enabling the orchestration of the microenvironment in physiology and disease states.
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