Von Hippel-Lindau Protein Is Required for Optimal Alveolar Macrophage Terminal Differentiation, Self-Renewal, and Function

Summary The rapid transit from hypoxia to normoxia in the lung that follows the first breath in newborn mice coincides with alveolar macrophage (AM) differentiation. However, whether sensing of oxygen affects AM maturation and function has not been previously explored. We have generated mice whose AMs show a deficient ability to sense oxygen after birth by deleting Vhl, a negative regulator of HIF transcription factors, in the CD11c compartment (CD11cΔVhl mice). VHL-deficient AMs show an immature-like phenotype and an impaired self-renewal capacity in vivo that persists upon culture ex vivo. VHL-deficient phenotype is intrinsic in AMs derived from monocyte precursors in mixed bone marrow chimeras. Moreover, unlike control Vhlfl/fl, AMs from CD11cΔVhl mice do not reverse pulmonary alveolar proteinosis when transplanted into Csf2rb−/− mice, demonstrating that VHL contributes to AM-mediated surfactant clearance. Thus, our results suggest that optimal AM terminal differentiation, self-renewal, and homeostatic function requires their intact oxygen-sensing capacity.
Graphical Abstract
Highlights • Hypoxia and glycolysis signatures are downregulated during alveolar macrophage maturation • VHL-deficient alveolar macrophages induce HIF-target genes and are more glycolytic • VHL-deficient alveolar macrophages show an intrinsic immature-like phenotype • VHL promotes alveolar macrophage self-renewal and surfactant clearance capacity
Izquierdo et al. show that the absence of VHL in lung alveolar macrophages prevents their terminal maturation. VHL-deficient alveolar macrophages induce HIF-target gene expression and are partially desensitized to oxygen. Moreover, they have a decreased self-renewal and surfactant clearance capacity, suggesting that oxygen sensing contributes to alveolar macrophage functional maturation.