Gene expression in whole lung and pulmonary macrophages reflects the dynamic pathology associated with airway surface dehydration

Scnn1b-Tg mice overexpress the beta subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (Scnn1b) in airway Club cells. The general phenotype of these mice is described in three published manuscripts (Mall et al. 2004, Nature Medicine, 10(5):487-93; Mall et al. 2008, Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 177(7):730-42; and Livraghi-Butrico et al. 2012, Physiol. Genomics 44(8):470-84. Briefly, overexpression of the Scnn1b transgene in airway Club cells leads to hyperabsorption of sodium from the airway surface liquid, dehydrated airway surface liquid and mucus, and reduced mucus clearance associated with accumulation of mucus plugs/plaques. The data provided here represents mRNA expression data from disseccted whole trachea (distal and proximal ends cut 3-4 cartliage rings below the larynx and just above the bifurcation, respectively) from male WT and Scnn1b-Tg littermates (C57Bl/6NTac background) at 4 time points [postnatal days (PND) 0, 3, 10, and 42]. PND 0 trachea are histologically normal, a tracheal mucus plug/obstruction develops around PND 3, the plug is receding to more distal airways by PND 10, and the trachea is again histologically normal by PND 42. The data from the WT mice provides a global look at mRNA changes across time, while the data from the Scnn1b-Tg line provides mRNA data that allows differential gene expression due to mucus obstruction to be queried.

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Saini Y, Dang H, Livraghi-Butrico A, Kelly EJ, Jones LC, O'Neal WK, Boucher RC