Claudin proteins are major constituents of epithelial and endothelial tight junctions (TJs) that regulate paracellular permeability to ions and solutes. Claudin 18, a member of the large claudin family, is highly expressed in lung alveolar epithelium. To elucidate the role of claudin 18 in alveolar epithelial barrier function, we generated claudin 18 knockout (C18 KO) mice. C18 KO mice exhibited increased solute permeability and alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) compared with wild-type control mice. Increased AFC in C18 KO mice was associated with increased b-adrenergic receptor signaling together with activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, higher epithelial sodium channel, and Na-K-ATPase (Na pump) activity and increased Na-K-ATPase b1 subunit expression. Consistent with in vivo findings, C18 KO alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) monolayers exhibited lower transepithelial electrical resistance and increased solute and ion permeability with unchanged ion selectivity. Claudin 3 and claudin 4 expression was markedly increased in C18 KO mice, whereas claudin 5 expression was unchanged and occludin significantly decreased. Microarray analysis revealed changes in cytoskeletonassociated gene expression in C18 KO mice, consistent with observed F-actin cytoskeletal rearrangement in AEC monolayers. These findings demonstrate a crucial nonredundant role for claudin 18 in the regulation of alveolar epithelial TJ composition and permeability properties. Increased AFC in C18 KO mice identifies a role for claudin 18 in alveolar fluid homeostasis beyond its direct contributions to barrier properties that may, at least in part, compensate for increased permeability.

Active ion transport by basolateral Na-K-ATPase (Na pump) creates an Na 1 gradient that drives fluid absorption across lung alveolar epithelium. The a1 and b1 subunits are the most highly expressed Na pump subunits in alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). The specific contribution of the b1 subunit and the relative contributions of alveolar epithelial type II (AT2) versus type I (AT1) cells to alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) were investigated using two cell type-specific mouse knockout lines in which the b1 subunit was knocked out in either AT1 cells or both AT1 and AT2 cells. AFC was markedly decreased in both knockout lines, revealing, we believe for the first time, that AT1 cells play a major role in AFC and providing insights into AEC-specific roles in alveolar homeostasis. AEC monolayers derived from knockout mice demonstrated decreased short-circuit current and active Na 1 absorption, consistent with in vivo observations. Neither hyperoxia nor ventilator-induced lung injury increased wet-to-dry lung weight ratios in knockout lungs relative to control lungs. Knockout mice showed increases in Na pump b3 subunit expression and b 2 -adrenergic receptor expression. These results demonstrate a crucial role for the Na pump b1 subunit in alveolar ion and fluid transport and indicate that both AT1 and AT2 cells make major contributions to these processes and to AFC. Furthermore, they support the feasibility of a general approach to altering alveolar epithelial function in a cell-specific manner that allows direct insights into AT1 versus AT2 cell-specific roles in the lung.Keywords: lung; ion transport; Na-K-ATPase; b1 subunit; b 2 -adrenergic receptor Clinical RelevanceThis study demonstrates an important role for the Na-KATPase b1 subunit in ion transport and alveolar fluid clearance and that AT1 cells contribute a major portion of alveolar fluid clearance in the lung. Compensatory mechanisms involving increased b3 subunit levels as well as b 2 -adrenergic receptor protein expression can be activated in response to b1 subunit deletion.

We hypothesized that congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) may decrease distal air space fluid absorption due to immaturity of alveolar epithelial cells from a loss of the normal epithelial Na+ transport, as assessed by amiloride and epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) and Na-K-ATPase expression, as well as failure to respond to endogenous epinephrine as assessed by propranolol. Timed-pregnant dams were gavage fed 100 mg of nitrofen at 9.5-day gestation to induce CDH in the fetuses, and distal air space fluid absorption experiments were carried out on 22-day gestation (term) fetuses. Controls were nitrofen-exposed fetuses without CDH. Absorption of distal air space fluid was measured from the increase in 131I-albumin concentration in an isosmolar, physiological solution instilled into the developing lungs. In controls, distal air space fluid absorption was rapid and mediated by beta-adrenoceptors as demonstrated by reversal to fluid secretion after propranolol. Normal lung fluid absorption was also partially inhibited by amiloride. In contrast, CDH fetuses continued to show lung fluid secretion, and this secretion was not affected by either propranolol or amiloride. CDH lungs showed a 67% reduction in alpha-ENaC and beta-ENaC expression, but no change in alpha1-Na-K-ATPase expression. These studies demonstrate: 1) CDH delays lung maturation with impaired distal air space fluid absorption secondary to inadequate Na+ uptake by the distal lung epithelium that results in fluid-filled lungs at birth with reduced capacity to establish postnatal breathing, and 2) the main stimulus to lung fluid absorption in near-term control fetuses, elevated endogenous epinephrine levels, is not functional in CDH fetuses.

Background: We tested the hypothesis that maternal interleukin-1β (IL-1β) pretreatment and induction of fetal cortisol synthesis activates MAP kinases and thereby affects lung fluid absorption in preterm guinea pigs.