Gpr116 Receptor Regulates Distinctive Functions in Pneumocytes and Vascular Endothelium

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 22;10(9):e0137949. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137949. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Despite its known expression in both the vascular endothelium and the lung epithelium, until recently the physiological role of the adhesion receptor Gpr116/ADGRF5 has remained elusive. We generated a new mouse model of constitutive Gpr116 inactivation, with a large genetic deletion encompassing exon 4 to exon 21 of the Gpr116 gene. This model allowed us to confirm recent results defining Gpr116 as necessary regulator of surfactant homeostasis. The loss of Gpr116 provokes an early accumulation of surfactant in the lungs, followed by a massive infiltration of macrophages, and eventually progresses into an emphysema-like pathology. Further analysis of this knockout model revealed cerebral vascular leakage, beginning at around 1.5 months of age. Additionally, endothelial-specific deletion of Gpr116 resulted in a significant increase of the brain vascular leakage. Mice devoid of Gpr116 developed an anatomically normal and largely functional vascular network, surprisingly exhibited an attenuated pathological retinal vascular response in a model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. These data suggest that Gpr116 modulates endothelial properties, a previously unappreciated function despite the pan-vascular expression of this receptor. Our results support the key pulmonary function of Gpr116 and describe a new role in the central nervous system vasculature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alveolar Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Capillary Permeability / genetics
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Homeostasis / genetics
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Models, Biological
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Pulmonary Surfactants / metabolism*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Retinal Neovascularization / genetics
  • Retinal Neovascularization / metabolism
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Spleen / pathology

Substances

  • Gpr116 protein, mouse
  • Pulmonary Surfactants
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the European Research Council (ERC-AdG #294556 BBBARRIER), the European Union (ITN-2012-317250-VESSEL), the Swedish Cancer Foundation and the Swedish Research Council, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and the Leducq Foundation through the Sphingonet transatlantic network. Grants were also provided by Uppsala University.