Abstract: Objective: To explore the possible role of forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) in lung development by analyzing the dynamic expression of Foxp3 during mouse lung development and its relationship with lung development related markers. Methods: According to the process of lung development, fetal and newborn mice were divided into 6 groups. Lung tissues were taken at 17.5 days of pregnancy and 1 day, 4 days, 7 days, 14 days and 21 days after birth. Lung morphology was observed by HE staining, CD31 content was detected by immunohistochemical staining and pulmonary microvessel density was observed. The expression of Foxp3 and surfactant protein C (SPC), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1) mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR, and the protein expression of Foxp3 and SP-C, VEGF-A, Ang-1 was detected by Western blotting. Results: The expression of Foxp3 mRNA in lung tissue was the highest in the tubule stage at E175 d, and then decreased continuously. The expression of SP-C mRNA was the highest at 1 day after birth, and then decreased gradually until the late stage of alveolization. The expression of VEGF-A and Ang-1 mRNA was the highest at E17.5 d, then decreased gradually, and finally tended to be stable. The expression of Foxp3 protein was found in the tubule stage, and the expression was the highest in the tubule phase and vesicular phase, and then gradually stabilized. The expression of VEGF-A and Ang-1 was also the highest in the tubule and vesicular phase, and then decreased gradually, while the expression of SP-C reached the peak at 1 day after birth, then decreased gradually, and tended to be stable in the middle and late stage of alveoli. Correlation analysis showed that Foxp3 was correlated with SP-C, VEGF-A and Ang-1 (r=0.661, 0.630 and 0.738). Conclusion: Foxp3 showed dynamic expression in fetal lung and early postnatal stage. The high expression of Foxp3 in tubule stage and early and middle vesicle stage was positively correlated with SP-C, VEGF-A and Ang-1, suggesting that Foxp3 may promote the proliferation of alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary vascular endothelial cells and participate in the process of lung development.
江健锋, 卢红艳, 朱玥, 何朗粤, 朱莹. Foxp3在小鼠肺发育中的动态表达及意义[J]. 江苏大学学报:医学版, 2024, 34(02): 132-137.
JIANG Jianfeng, LU Hongyan, ZHU Yue, HE Langyue, ZHU Ying. Dynamic expression and significance of Foxp3 in the development of mouse lung. Journal of Jiangsu University(Medicine Edition), 2024, 34(02): 132-137.
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