There are four known isoforms of the human leptin receptor (HLR) with different C-terminal cytoplasmic domains (designated by the number of unique C-terminal amino acids). In cells expressing HLR-5, -15, or -274, 15-25% of the leptin binding sites were located at the plasma membrane. In contrast, in cells expressing HLR-67, only 5% of the total binding sites were at the plasma membrane. Immunofluorescent microscopy showed that all four isoforms partially co-localized with calnexin and ␤-COP, markers of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi, respectively. All isoforms were also detected in an unidentified punctate compartment. All isoforms were internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis, but at different rates. After 20 min at 37°C, 45% of a bound cohort of labeled ligand had been internalized by HLR-15, 30% by HLR-67, 25% by HLR-274, and 15% by HLR-5. Degradation of internalized leptin occurred in lysosomes. Overnight exposure to leptin down-regulated all isoforms, but to a variable extent. HLR-274 displayed the greatest down-regulation and also appeared to reach lysosomes more quickly than the other isoforms. The faster degradation of HLR-274 may help to terminate leptin signaling.Leptin is a peptide secreted primarily by adipose cells that regulates appetite, energy metabolism, and neuroendocrine function. Leptin acts both centrally, presumably in the hypothalamus, and directly on peripheral tissues (1-3). Leptin binding activates its receptor, a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily, which includes receptors for interleukins, prolactin, growth hormone, and erythropoietin (4, 5). As a result of differential mRNA splicing, there are several isoforms of the leptin receptor with different lengths and C-terminal sequences. The regions that are identical in all the receptor isoforms include the extracellular ligand binding domain, the transmembrane domain, and the first 29 amino acids in the cytoplasmic domain. (4, 6 -11).Some cytokine receptors (e.g. receptors for growth hormone, erythropoietin, and prolactin) form homodimers when activated by ligand, while others form hetero-oligomers (12)(13)(14). Recent studies have shown that leptin receptors form homodimers, both in the presence and absence of ligand (15, 16). Each leptin receptor binds one molecule of leptin, resulting in a tetrameric complex composed of two receptors and two leptin molecules. However, activation of the receptor is thought to result from a ligand induced conformational change rather than dimerization of the receptor (15, 17). All the leptin receptor isoforms contain a "box 1" Janus kinase binding site in the cytoplasmic domain. The longest form also contains a "box 2" motif and putative STAT 1 binding sites (5, 10, 11, 18) and thus only the long form is able to activate STAT proteins (18 -20).Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a well characterized mechanism for selectively transporting nutrients, hormones, and growth factors into cells. Often receptors are concentrated in clathrin-coated pits and then internalized in clathrin-coate...

Mechanical ventilation is a valuable treatment regimen for respiratory failure. However, mechanical ventilation (especially with high tidal volumes) is implicated in the initiation and/or exacerbation of lung injury. Hence, it is important to understand how the cells that line the inner surface of the lung [alveolar epithelial cells (AECs)] sense cyclic stretching. Here, we tested the hypothesis that matrix molecules, via their interaction with surface receptors, transduce mechanical signals in AECs. We first determined that rat AECs secrete an extracellular matrix (ECM) rich in anastamosing fibers composed of the α3 laminin subunit, complexed with β1 and γ1 laminin subunits (i.e. laminin-6), and perlecan by a combination of immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblotting analyses. The fibrous network exhibits isotropic expansion when exposed to cyclic stretching (30 cycles per minute, 10% strain). Moreover, this same stretching regimen activates mitogen-activated-protein kinase (MAPK) in AECs. Stretch-induced MAPK activation is not inhibited in AECs treated with antagonists to α3 or β1 integrin. However, MAPK activation is significantly reduced in cells treated with function-inhibiting antibodies against the α3 laminin subunit and dystroglycan, and when dystroglycan is knocked down in AECs using short hairpin RNA. In summary, our results support a novel mechanism by which laminin-6, via interaction with dystroglycan, transduces a mechanical signal initiated by stretching that subsequently activates the MAPK pathway in rat AECs. These results are the first to indicate a function for laminin-6. They also provide novel insight into the role of the pericellular environment in dictating the response of epithelial cells to mechanical stimulation and have broad implications for the pathophysiology of lung injury.

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S U M M A R Y Two epithelial cell types cover the alveolar surface of the lung. Type II alveolar epithelial cells produce surfactant and, during development or following wounding, give rise to type I cells that are involved in gas exchange and alveolar fluid homeostasis. In culture, freshly isolated alveolar type II cells assume a more squamous (type I-like) appearance within 4 days after plating. They assemble numerous focal adhesions that associate with the actin cytoskeleton at the cell margins. These alveolar epithelial cells lose expression of type II cell markers including SP-C and after 4 days in culture express the type I cell marker T1a. Those cells that express T1a also deposit fibers of laminin-311 in their matrix. The latter appears to be related to their development of a type I phenotype because freshly isolated, primary type I cells also assemble laminin-311-rich fibers in vitro. A b1 integrin antibody antagonist inhibits the assembly of laminin-311 matrix fibers. Moreover, the formation of laminin fibers is dependent on the activity of the small GTPases and is perturbed by ML-7, a myosin light chain kinase inhibitor. In summary, our data indicate that assembly of laminin-311 fibers by lung epithelial cells is integrin and actin cytoskeleton dependent, and that these fibers are characteristic of type I alveolar cells. (J Histochem Cytochem 54:665 -672, 2006)