Epithelial cell PPAR[gamma] contributes to normal lung maturation.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma is a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily that can promote cellular differentiation and organ development. PPARgamma expression has been reported in a number of pulmonary cell types, including inflammatory, mesenchymal, and epithelial cells. We find that PPARgamma is prominently expressed in the airway epithelium in the mouse lung. In an effort to define the physiological role of PPARgamma within the lung, we have ablated PPARgamma using a novel line of mice capable of specifically targeting the airway epithelium. Airway epithelial cell PPARgamma-targeted mice display enlarged airspaces resulting from insufficient postnatal lung maturation. The increase in airspace size is accompanied by alterations in lung physiology, including increased lung volumes and decreased tissue resistance. Genome-wide expression profiling reveals a reduction in structural extracellular matrix (ECM) gene expression in conditionally targeted mice, suggesting a disruption in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions necessary for the establishment of normal lung structure. Expression profiling of airway epithelial cells isolated from conditionally targeted mice indicates PPARgamma regulates genes encoding known PPARgamma targets, additional lipid metabolism enzymes, and markers of cellular differentiation. These data reveal airway epithelial cell PPARgamma is necessary for normal lung structure and function.