Sialic acids expression in newborn rat lungs: implications for pulmonary developmental biology

Sialic acids expression in newborn rat lungs: implications for pulmonary developmental biology:



Publication date: December 2020

Source: Acta Histochemica, Volume 122, Issue 8

Author(s): Maria de Fátima Martins, Ana Honório-Ferreira, Marco S. Reis, Catarina Cortez-Vaz, Carlos Alberto Gonçalves




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Tables (3)
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Acta Histochemica
Volume 122, Issue 8, December 2020, 151626

Sialic acids expression in newborn rat lungs: implications for pulmonary developmental biology
Author links open overlay panelMariade Fátima MartinsabAnaHonório-FerreiraaMarcoS. ReiscCatarinaCortez-VazaCarlos AlbertoGonçalvesabShow more
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acthis.2020.151626Get rights and content


Abstract


Mammalian lung development proceeds during the postnatal period and continues throughout life. Intricate tubular systems of airways and vessels lined by epithelial cells are developed during this process. All cells, and particularly epithelial cells, carry an array of glycans on their surfaces. N-acetylneuraminic (Neu5Ac) and N-glycolylneuraminic (Neu5Gc) acids, two most frequently-occurring sialic acid residues, are essential determinants during development and in the homeostasis of cells and organisms. However, systematic data about the presence of cell surface sialic acids in the postnatal lung and their content is still scarce. In the present study, we addressed the histochemical localization of Neu5Ac > Neu5Gc in 0-day-old rat lungs. Furthermore, both residues were separated, identified and quantified in lung membranes isolated from 0-day-old rat lungs using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methodologies. Finally, we compared these results with those previously reported by us for adult rat lungs. The Neu5Ac > Neu5Gc residues were located on the surface of ciliated and non-ciliated cells and the median values for both residues in the purified lung membranes of newborn rats were 5.365 and 1.935 μg/mg prot., respectively. Comparing these results with those reported for the adults, it was possible to observe a significant difference between the levels of Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc (p < 0.001). A more substantial change was found for the case of Neu5Ac. The preponderance of Neu5Ac and its expressive increase during the postnatal development points towards a more prominent role of this residue. Bearing in mind that sialic acids are negatively charged molecules, the high content of Neu5Ac could contribute to the formation of an anion “shield” and have a role in pulmonary development and physiology.