Home General Physiology and Biophysics 2022 General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.41, No.6, p. 559–567, 2022

Journal info


Founded: 1982
ISSN 1338-4325 (online)
ISSN 0231-5882 (print)
Published in English,
6 times per year

Aims and Scope
Editorial Info
Submission Guidelines

Select Journal







Webshop Cart

Your Cart is currently empty.

Info: Your browser does not accept cookies. To put products into your cart and purchase them you need to enable cookies.

General Physiology and Biophysics Vol.41, No.6, p. 559–567, 2022

Title: Wnt7b/β-catenin signaling pathway mediated by retinoid acid involved in the transdifferentiation of primary fetal alveolar epithelial type II cells
Author: Jinshuai Ma, Dianpu Zhang, Meng Lv, Qiqi Pan, Xiuxiang Liu

Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the roles of retinoic acid (RA) in transdifferentiation of primary fetal alveolar epithelial type II cells (AECIIs) into alveolar epithelial type I cells (AECIs). Primary fetal AECIIs isolated from rats at a gestational of 19 days were divided into: (i) DMSO group treated using 0.1% DMSO; (ii) RA group, treated with 1 µM RA; and (iii) RA+BMS493 group treated with 1 µM RA and 10–8 M BMS493 (served as a pan-RA receptor antagonist). Then we determined the roles of AQP5 (a specific marker of AECIs), SP-C (a specific marker for AECIIs) and Wnt7b/β-catenin signaling pathway in the transdifferentiation of AECIIs to AECIs. SP-C mRNA and protein expression was significantly down-regulated in AECIIs exposure to RA for 24 h and 48 h, however, significant up-regulation was noticed after exposure for 72 h. AQP5 mRNA and protein expression showed significant increase in RA group, but showed significant decline in the RA+BMS493 group. Wnt7b mRNA, nucleus β-catenin and cyclin D1 were significantly up-regulated in RA group compared with DMSO group. RA may promote fetal AECIIs transdifferentiation into AECIs through activating Wnt7b/β-catenin signaling pathway. Our study contributed to the understanding on the pulmonary regeneration in cases of pulmonary injuries, together with the prevention and treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

Keywords: Alveolar epithelial type II cells — Retinoic acid — Wnt7b — β-catenin — Cyclin D1
Published online: 23-Nov-2022
Year: 2022, Volume: 41, Issue: 6 Page From: 559, Page To: 567
doi:10.4149/gpb_2022037


download file



© AEPress s.r.o
Copyright notice: For any permission to reproduce, archive or otherwise use the documents in the ELiS, please contact AEP.