Transforming growth factor β1 inhibits cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-dependent cAMP-stimulated alveolar epithelial fluid transport via a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent mechanism

Exogenous or endogenous β₂-adrenergic receptor agonists enhance alveolar epithelial fluid transport via a cAMP-dependent mechanism that protects the lungs from alveolar flooding in acute lung injury. However, impaired alveolar fluid clearance is present in most of the patients with acute lung injury and is associated with increased mortality, although the mechanisms responsible for this inhibition of the alveolar epithelial fluid transport are not completely understood. Here, we found that transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-1), a critical mediator of acute lung injury, inhibits β₂-adrenergic receptor agonist-stimulated vectorial fluid and Cl^- transport across primary rat and human alveolar epithelial type II cell monolayers. This inhibition is due to a reduction in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator activity and biosynthesis mediated by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent heterologous desensitization and down-regulation of the β₂-adrenergic receptors. Consistent with these in vitro results, inhibition of the PI3K pathway or pretreatment with soluble chimeric TGF-β type II receptor restored β₂- adrenergic receptor agonist-stimulated alveolar epithelial fluid transport in an in vivo model of acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock in rats. The results demonstrate a novel role for TGF-β1 in impairing the β-adrenergic agonist-stimulated alveolar fluid clearance in acute lung injury, an effect that could be corrected by using PI3K inhibitors that are safe to use in humans.