Hox5 genes direct elastin network formation during alveologenesis by regulating myofibroblast adhesion

Hox5 genes (Hoxa5, Hoxb5, Hoxc5) are exclusively expressed in the lung mesenchyme during embryogenesis, and the most severe phenotypes result from constitutive loss of function of all three genes. Because Hox5 triple null mutants exhibit perinatal lethality, the contribution of this paralogous group to postembryonic lung development is unknown. Intriguingly, expression of all three Hox5 genes peaks during the first 2 weeks after birth, reaching levels far exceeding those measured at embryonic stages, and surviving Hoxa5 single and Hox5 AabbCc compound mutants exhibit defects in the localization of alveolar myofibroblasts. To define the contribution of the entire Hox5 paralogous group to this process, we generated an Hoxa5 conditional allele to use with our existing null alleles for Hoxb5 and Hoxc5. Postnatally, mesenchymal deletion of Hoxa5 in an Hoxb5/Hoxc5 double-mutant background results in severe alveolar simplification. The elastin network required for alveolar formation is dramatically disrupted in Hox5 triple mutants, while the basal lamina, interstitial matrix, and fibronectin are normal. Alveolar myofibroblasts remain Pdgfra+/SMA+ double positive and present in normal numbers, indicating that the irregular elastin network is not due to fibroblast differentiation defects. Rather, we observe that SMA+ myofibroblasts of Hox5 triple mutants are morphologically abnormal both in vivo and in vitro with highly reduced adherence to fibronectin. This loss of adhesion is a result of loss of the integrin heterodimer Itga5b1 in mutant fibroblasts. Collectively, these data show an important role for Hox5 genes in lung fibroblast adhesion necessary for proper elastin network formation during alveologenesis.