Mechanisms and Limits of Induced Postnatal Lung Growth This Official Workshop Report Was Approved by the ATS Board of Directors December 2003
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American Thoracic Society Documents Mechanisms and Limits of Induced Postnatal Lung Growth This Official Workshop Report was approved by the ATS Board of Directors December 2003. TABLE OF CONTENTS ties of tissue remodeling, structural interaction, and physiologic function; (2) providing an update on the mechanisms and func- Introduction tional limits of induced lung growth; and (3) identifying key Postnatal Lung Development issues for further investigation. Normal Development Abnormal Development POSTNATAL LUNG DEVELOPMENT Models of Induce Postnatal Lung Growth Increased Metabolic Oxygen Demand Normal Development Increased Mechanical Lung Strain Alveolarization. Transformation of the immature saccular lung Reduced Size (Lobar) Lung Transplant with a limited gas-exchange area to a mature lung with a large Chronic Hypoxia or High-altitude Exposure internal surface area entails thinning of alveolar walls, growth Extracellular Matrix and Elastic Fibers of capillary network, and extensive subdivision of gas exchange Signals and Mediators of Induced Lung Growth units. This period is marked by interstitial fibroblast proliferation Mechanical Signals while epithelial cells flatten and decrease in number, resulting Nonmechanical Signals and Mediators in a net thinning of distal airspace walls. Concurrently, alveolar Role of Pluripotent Stem Cells capillary network becomes more complex. Alveolar septation Functional Correlates and Limits of Induced Lung Growth begins as secondary crests that extend from primary alveolar Compensatory Versus Reparative Growth walls. Development of these crests or septae occurs through Nonstructural Sources of Adaptation: Recruitment deposition of new basement membrane, outgrowth of epithelial of Reserves cells and myofibroblasts at the tips of septae, and elastin deposi- Limits Imposed by Dysanaptic Lung Growth tion (1). In humans, the process begins at approximately 36 weeks Limits Imposed by Heart–Lung–Thorax Interaction of gestation (2). At birth, only approximately 15% of alveoli Growth Induction and Carcinogenesis have formed, with the remaining subdivisions developing in the Future Directions first few postnatal years (2–5). Bronchovasculoalveolar interaction. Vascular development INTRODUCTION occurs via two processes: (1) vasculogenesis, the development The mature lung has traditionally been assumed to be nonmalle- of blood vessels from the differentiation of angioblasts in meso- able; structural changes were considered irreversible once nor- derm, and (2) angiogenesis, classically described as sprouting of mal alveolar development was completed, and treatment for blood vessels from existing vessels (6–8), but can also occur by chronic lung disease typically focuses on minimizing symptoms “intussusception” (9), formation and growth of a transcapillary and preventing further tissue destruction. This approach is being tissue pillar that eventually divides an existing capillary segment revised in light of recent findings. There is growing clinical evi- into two. The bronchial (systemic) vessels develop with preacinar dence of accelerated or “catch-up” lung growth in youngsters airways; development is complete by approximately 16-weeks whose lung disease is no longer active. Several experimental gestation with further growth in size to match lung growth (3). models have shown the possibility of accelerating the rate of lung Bronchial vessels generally are not found in the peripheral acinar growth during and beyond the period of postnatal maturation. region and thus do not normally participate in alveolar gas ex- There has been new insight into the signals, mediators, and ana- change. Preacinar pulmonary arteries, supplied by the right heart, tomic sites of postnatal lung growth as well as their interactions grow with the airways into the intra-acinar region and fuse with and physiologic correlates. Although much remains unknown, this peripheral microvasculature that has arisen from the mesen- field is poised on the verge of practical application, with potential chyme by vasculogenesis (8). It is not clear whether capillary therapeutic implications for the management of chronic lung dis- invasion stimulates alveolar septation or vice versa, but alveolar ease, lung volume reduction surgery, and transplantation. This septation is always associated with capillary invasion. The impor- workshop was conducted to summarize relevant recent advances tance of vascular supply to alveolarization is demonstrated by with the objectives of (1) promoting an integrative understand- studies using antiangiogenic agents such as fumagillin, thalidomide, ing of the potential for postnatal lung growth that encompasses and Su-5416, an inhibitor of the vascular endothelial growth not just gene expression and cell division, but also the complexi- factor (VEGF) receptor; these agents disrupt vascular develop- ment, leading to reduced pulmonary arterial density and inhibi- tion of alveolar growth (10). Bronchial arteries are responsive to angiogenic stimuli throughout life. Unilateral pulmonary artery ligation augments Members of the ad hoc Statement Committee have disclosed any direct commer- growth of bronchial arteries in lambs and mice (11, 12). In chronic cial associations (financial relationships or legal obligations) related to the prepara- pulmonary hypertension, bronchial vessels grow even as periph- tion of this statement. This information is kept on file at the ATS headquarters. eral pulmonary vessels are lost (13). In lung disease, angiogenesis Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 170. pp 319–343, 2004 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.200209-1062ST of the bronchial circulation does not support normal gas ex- Internet address: www.atsjournals.org change, and the high pressure of these systemic vessels can lead 320 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE VOL 170 2004 to life-threatening hemoptysis. In regions of bronchial angiogen- with a thicker septal interstitium, which contains more collagen esis, local pulmonary vessels do not show angiogenesis, sug- and elastin fibers to bear the force of lung distension (37, 38). gesting that the two vascular systems respond independently Rodents are born with the lung in the saccular stage; alveolariza- (14). There is only limited evidence supporting induced postnatal tion occurs exclusively from Days 4–14 after birth, followed by growth of intra-acinar blood vessels, as after chronic pseudo- alveolar wall thinning between Days 14–21 (39). Because rodent monas infection in rats (15) and in patients with veno-occlusive epiphyses never close (40), thoracic growth and alveolarization disease (16). persist throughout life (41). In comparison, most of the alveoli in Although the lung is extensively innervated from early fetal guinea pig lungs have already formed at birth (42, 43) containing life, postnatal denervation by cervical vagotomy and sympathec- more septal connective tissue (44) and less pulmonary vascular tomy does not significantly affect subsequent lung growth or smooth muscle (45). Guinea pigs also undergo epiphyseal closure mechanics in growing rats and rabbits (17–19); hence, pattern beginning at approximately 5 months of age (46), suggesting and extent of growth are not critically dependent on neural that older animals reach an upper limit of thoracic and hence control or communication. lung size. In rabbits, alveoli continue to form after birth into adulthood (36 weeks), but septal thinning occurs mostly before Abnormal Development birth (47). Their alveolar blood–gas barrier is thinner with a Clinical syndromes. Syndromes that alter expression of growth higher capillary wall stress compared with larger species (dog factors, cytokines, transcription factors, or extracellular matrix and horse) (48, 49); septal thickness and capillary wall strength (ECM) proteins provide models to explore mechanisms that increase with postnatal maturation (50). control alveolar development. Signals that regulate the saccular- There are no major differences between dogs and humans in to-alveolar morphologic transition are poorly understood, but the characteristics of lung structure or function during postnatal disrupting lung septation during this transition impairs alveolar maturation and aging (51). Because they are highly aerobic and formation, resulting in a loss of alveolar surface area (20, 21). easily trained, dogs are used in exercise studies to define the There are several syndromes of abnormal lung alveolarization functional correlates of lung growth. Sheep are born with well- in humans. Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is associated with formed alveoli; postnatal growth only modestly increases alveo- reduced lung volumes, alveolar surface area, fewer alveoli, defec- lar complexity and total alveolar number (52). Pigs are born tive elastin deposition, and vascular abnormalities (22, 23). Lep- with alveolar–capillary surface densities and air–blood tissue rechaunism, caused by a defect of the insulin/insulin-like growth barrier thickness already at adult levels (53). Airspace expansion factor-I receptor, is associated with reduced lung surface areas and septal thinning during the first postnatal week increases as well as fewer and larger alveoli (24). Oligohydramnios (25), elastic recoil, followed by vigorous septal subdivision and thick- congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) (26), and intrathoracic ening (54, 55). Lung development in primates closely mimics mass lesions are all associated with pulmonary hypoplasia caused that in humans, although postnatal alveolar growth in monkeys by the