Mucosecretory lung disease: different assemblies of jag1 and jag2 determine tracheobronchial cell fate

Mucosecretory lung disease compromises airway epithelial function and is characterized by goblet cell hyperplasia and ciliated cell hypoplasia. These cell types are derived from tracheobronchial stem/progenitor cells via a Notch dependent mechanism. Although specific arrays of Notch receptors regulate cell fate determination, the function of the ligands Jagged1 (JAG1) and Jagged2 (JAG2) is unclear. This study used primary human bronchial air-liquid- interface cultures, gamma secretase inhibition, and neutralizing antibodies to show: 1) JAG1 and JAG2 were necessary for secretory progenitor cell fate determination; 2) JAG2 suppressed squamous differentiation; and 3) pausing of the ciliated cell differentiation process after Notch inhibition. Histological, cell fractionation, cell surface biotinylation, and ubiquitination analyses demonstrated that all cells were JAG1 positive but that little JAG1 was present on the cell surface. In contrast, JAG2 was expressed in a positive-negative pattern and was abundant on the cell surface. Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) and tankyrase inhibition studies showed that GSK3 regulated JAG2 trafficking, and that this mechanism was WNT-independent. Collectively, these data indicate that variation in JAG2 trafficking creates regions of high, medium, and low ligand expression. Thus, distinct assemblies of JAG1 and JAG2 may regulate Notch signal strength and determine the fate of tracheobronchial stem/progenitor cells. ![Graphical Abstract][1] Graphical Abstract Different assemblies of JAG1 and JAG2 may determine Notch signal strength and cell fate within the tracheobronchial epithelium. A cell which interacts with JAG1+ cells (blue squares) receives a low Notch signal (light yellow square). A cell which interacts with a mixture of JAG1+ and JAG1+/JAG2+ cells (purple squares) receives a medium (med) Notch signal (medium yellow square). A cell which interacts with JAG1+/JAG2+ cells receives a high Notch signal (bright yellow square). ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. [1]: pending:yes