Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
October 2011
Pulmonary ErbB4 deletion leads to a delay in fetal lung development, alveolar simplification, and lung function disturbances in adult mice. We generated a model of intrauterine infection in ErbB4 transgenic mice to study the additive effects of antenatal LPS administration and ErbB4 deletion during fetal lung development. Pregnant mice were treated intra-amniotically with an LPS dose of 4 μg at E17 of gestation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ErbB4 receptor has an important function in fetal lung maturation. Deletion of ErbB4 leads to alveolar hypoplasia and hyperreactive airways similar to the changes in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD is a chronic pulmonary disorder affecting premature infants as a consequence of lung immaturity, lung damage, and abnormal repair.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
March 2008
Neuregulin is an important growth factor in fetal surfactant synthesis, and downregulation of its receptor, ErbB4, impairs fetal surfactant synthesis. We hypothesized that pulmonary ErbB4 deletion will affect the developing lung leading to an abnormal postnatal lung function. ErbB4-deleted lungs of 11- to 14-wk-old adult HER4heart mice, rescued from their lethal cardiac defects, were studied for the effect on lung function, alveolarization, and the surfactant system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF