Foxc2 influences alveolar epithelial cell differentiation during lung development.

mice and then analyzed. Notably, Foxc2-knockout lungs appeared parenchymatous and much smaller than those of the wild-type littermates. In the Foxc2 knockout lungs, the capillary beds remained distant from the alveolar epithelium until the late stages, the number of type2 alveolar cells per alveolar progenitor cell was lower and the type1 alveolar cells were thicker in Foxc2 knockout mice. In contrast, Foxc2 expression was only detected in the mesenchyme of the lung buds at E10.5, and it disappeared at E11.5 in Foxc2-LacZ knockin mice. Furthermore, the expression of Lef1 was significantly inhibited in E11.5 lungs. All of these results suggest that the abnormalities in Foxc2 knockout mice may involve maldifferentiation of alveolar epithelial cells and capillary vessel endothelial-alveolar epithelial approach as well as lymph vessel malformation. This is the first report about relationship between Foxc2 and lung development. This animal model might provide an important clue for elucidating the mechanism of lung development and the cause of respiratory diseases.

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