Adrenal hormone regulation of extracellular matrix synthesis by type ii cells. Dunsmore, Sarah E., Stephen R. Rannels, Rhea N. Grove, and D. Eugene Rannels. Departments of Cellular & Molecular Physiology and Anesthesia, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
APStracts 2:0002L, 1995.
Previous studies suggested an association between changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) and pulmonary epithelial cell growth and differentiation in lungs of adrenalectomized rats. The role of adrenal hormones to modulate synthesis of cell and ECM proteins by type II epithelial cells was thus investigated. In cells isolated from lungs of adrenalectomized animals, synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins was stimulated to a greater extent than was synthesis of cell proteins. This resulted in increased relative synthesis of matrix components. Conversely dexamethasone (200 nM) treatment in vitro reduced the effects of adrenalectomy and, in control cells, decreased relative ECM synthesis. The magnitude of these effects depended upon time in culture and serum conditions. For example, culture of normal cells in serum -free medium mimicked the effects of adrenalectomy, whereas there were no effects of dexamethasone in the presence of serum. These results indicate a role for adrenal steroid hormones to modulate extracellular matrix metabolism by type II pulmonary epithelial cells, and suggest that consequent effects on ECM biological activity may modify epithelial cell differentiation or growth. 

Received 28 September 1994; accepted in final form 4 January 1995.
APS Manuscript Number L284-4.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Lung Cell. Mol. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 24 February 1995.