缺氧诱导因子1α、诱导型一氧化氮合酶在缺氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺动脉的表达

目的　观察缺氧诱导因子 1α (HIF 1α)与诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)基因在缺氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺动脉的表达情况。方法常压间断缺氧法复制缺氧性肺动脉高压大鼠模型 ;右心导管测定平均肺动脉压 (mPAP) ;H·E染色观察肺血管重塑情况 ;原位杂交和免疫组织化学方法分别检测HIF 1α和iNOSmRNA及蛋白质。结果　缺氧 7天后大鼠mPAP升高 ,出现缺氧性肺血管重塑 (HPSR) ,缺氧 14天后出现右心室肥大。对照组大鼠肺动脉壁iNOS、iNOSmRNA、HIF 1αmRNA弱阳性 ,HIF 1α蛋白质在肺动脉内膜和中膜分别呈阴性和弱阳性 ;肺动脉壁iNOS蛋白质和mRNA表达水平于缺氧 3天增高 ,缺氧 7天上升达高峰 ,以后维持于高峰水平 ;HIF 1αmRNA表达水平于缺氧 14天以后显著升高 ;全部缺氧大鼠肺动脉内膜HIF 1α蛋白质强阳性 ,肺动脉中膜HIF 1α蛋白质表达水平于缺氧 3天上升达高峰 ,缺氧 14天以后逐渐向基线回降。缺氧条件下iNOS蛋白质水平与mPAP (r =0 74 ,P <0 0 1)和HPSR (r =0 78,P <0 0 1)呈正相关 ,与HIF 1α蛋白质水平呈负相关 (r =- 0 5 2 ,P <0 0 1)。结论　HIF 1α和iNOS均参与缺氧性肺动脉高压的发病 ,HIF 1α对iNOS可能具有转录激活作用 ,iNOS对HIF 1α的表达可能具有抑制作用     

内源性CO在缺氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺血管重构中的作用

目的和方法 :应用逆转录聚合酶链式反应 (RT PCR)、双波长分光光度法、右心导管及维多利亚蓝染色方法 ,动态观察慢性缺氧不同时间点大鼠肺组织中诱导型血红素氧合酶 (HO 1)基因表达、内源性CO生成、肺动脉压力及构型的变化 ,探讨内源性CO在大鼠缺氧性肺动脉高压肺血管重构中的作用。结果 :①正常大鼠肺组织可表达少量HO 1mRNA ,缺氧 5、10、15d大鼠肺组织HO 1mRNA含量分别增加 2 .3、3.6、4 .0倍 (P <0 .0 1) ,动脉血中COHb分别较正常大鼠增加 1.9、2 .6和 2 .9倍 (P <0 .0 1或P <0 .0 5 ) ,同时RVSP升高。光镜下可见IAPA血管壁增厚 ,管腔变窄。②Hemin可使缺氧大鼠肺组织HO 1mRNA和动脉血中COHb保持在高水平 (分别高达正常对照组的 5 .2和 3.7倍 ,P <0 .0 1或P <0 .0 5 ) ,能部分地抑制缺氧时大鼠RVSP的升高 ,减轻IAPA的病理改变。结论 :在慢性缺氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺组织中HO 1基因的表达增加 ,内源性CO生成增多。Hemin促进HO 1基因表达和内源性CO生成 ,可抑制肺动脉压升高 ,阻抑肺血管重构 ,对缺氧性肺动脉高压的形成有一定的防治作用     

PKC在慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉重构中的作用

目的 :探讨蛋白激酶C(PKC)在慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉重构中的作用。方法 :采用透射电镜、放射活性测定法、免疫组化、图像分析等方法综合进行评价。结果 :①肺动脉平均压 (mPAP)、右心室重量比 (RV LV S)显著高于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ;②光镜下肺细小动脉管壁面积 管总面积 (WA TA)、肺细小动脉中膜平滑肌细胞核密度 (SMC)显著高于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ;电镜显示肺动脉中膜平滑肌细胞增生 ,胶原纤维较对照组明显为多 ;③肺组织PKC总活性(PKCt)、胞膜PKC活性 (PKCm)、胞浆PKC活性 (PKCc)及PKCm PKCt的百分比显著高于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ;④免疫组化显示肺细小动脉 (直径约 10 0～ 2 0 0 μm)PKC含量、Ⅰ型胶原含量显著高于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ,Ⅲ型胶原组间无明显差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;⑤肺组织PKCt、PKCm、PKCm PKCt和肺动脉管壁PKC的表达与肺细小动脉中膜平滑肌细胞核密度 (SMC)、肺动脉管壁Ⅰ型胶原的表达均呈正相关。结论 :PKC参与慢性低氧肺动脉平滑肌细胞增殖、管壁胶原表达的调控 ,从而参与了低氧性肺动脉重构的过程     

野生型p53、bcl2基因在低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠肺内表达及其分布

目的 :探讨野生型 p5 3、bcl2 基因在慢性低氧性肺动脉高压中的作用。方法 :建立慢性低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠模型 ,用原位杂交的方法观察 p5 3mRNA、bcl2 mRNA在大鼠心脏及肺组织的表达和分布。结果 :缺氧组大鼠肺小动脉壁厚度占血管外径的百分比 (MT % ) 2 9 3 %± 4 5 %明显高于正常对照组 15 2 %± 3 2 % (P <0 .0 1) ,肺小动脉壁 p5 3mRNA表达 0 6 8± 0 12明显弱于对照组 1 12± 0 38(P <0 .0 1) ,而bcl2 mRNA表达 2 38± 1 0 4强于对照组 1 0 9± 0 32 (P <0 .0 1)。结论 :①慢性缺氧能导致肺小动脉重建及肺动脉高压 ;②野生型 p5 3bcl2 基因均参与了慢性低氧性肺动脉高压肺血管重建的调控。     

蛋白激酶C对大鼠离体肺动脉环张力及其反应性的调节作用

目的 :观察蛋白激酶C(PKC)对大鼠离体肺动脉环张力及反应性的调节作用。方法 :取Wistar大鼠肺动脉 ,观察在离体情况下PKC激活剂PMA及PKC抑制剂RO3 182 2 0对肺动脉环张力的直接作用 ;对氯化钾 (KCl)、5 羟色胺 (5 HT)和缺氧引起的收缩反应的影响 ;以及PMA对乙酰胆碱 (ACh)介导的内皮依赖性舒张 (EDR)和硝普钠(SNP)介导的内皮非依赖性舒张 (EIDR)反应的影响。结果 :①PMA(5 0 0nmol/L)使肺动脉环产生缓慢增强、持久的收缩 ,随PMA浓度增加而增强 ,RO3 182 2 0 (5 μmol/L)可完全阻断PMA的上述作用 ;②PMA可增强肺动脉对KCl、5 HT的收缩反应 ,该作用随PMA浓度增加而增强 ;③RO3 182 2 0 (5 μmol/L)几乎可以完全阻断离体肺动脉环对缺氧的第二相收缩反应 ;④PMA(10nmol/L)在 10min内完全逆转ACh(10 μmol/L)介导的EDR ,PMA(10nmol/L)还可使ACh的浓度一反应显著减弱 ,达到最大舒张反应的一半时对应的ACh浓度 (EC50 )显著增加 ,最大舒张反应明显减小 ;而PMA对SNP介导的EIDR无显著影响。结论 :PKC在与肺动脉张力及反应性的调节有关的细胞内生物信号传递过程中具有重要作用。     

慢性低氧所致肺动脉高压对大鼠肺血管平滑肌细胞及成纤维细胞中蛋白激酶CβI的膜转位和蛋白表达量的影响

目的通过观察慢性低氧所致肺动脉高压对大鼠肺血管平滑肌细胞及成纤维细胞中蛋白激酶CBI（PKCβI）的膜转位和蛋白表达量的影响,初步探讨PKCpI在慢性低氧诱导大鼠肺动脉高压的发生、发展过程中所起的作用。方法建立慢性常压低氧肺动脉高压大鼠模型,将雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、低氧1d、3d、7d、14d和21d组,应用蛋白免疫印迹和免疫组化技术检测肺动脉高压形成过程中大鼠肺血管平滑肌细胞及成纤维细胞中PKCβI的膜转位和蛋白表达水平。结果（1）RVSP和RV／（LV＋S）比值较正常对照组明显增加（P〈0．05）,低氧后3d、7d、14d和21d后大鼠肺血管明显增厚;（2）大鼠肺血管平滑肌细胞和成纤维细胞均有PKCβI的表达,且低氧14d后PKCβI的蛋白表达量较正常对照组相比降低（P〈0．05）。结论PKCβI蛋白表达量的下调可能参与了慢性低氧诱导的大鼠肺动脉高压肺血管重塑的发生、发展过程。     

食管组织VEGF、HIF-1α、iNOS及ecNOS的表达导致食管静脉曲张

为探讨食管下段组织中血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、低氧诱导因子-1α(HIF-1α)、诱导型一氧化氮合酶(i NOS)及内皮型一氧化氮合酶(ec NOS)的表达与门静脉高压症下发生食管静脉曲张之间的内在关联,本研究选取Wistar大鼠90只,以门静脉一步结扎法及结扎左肾上腺静脉行食管静脉曲张造模作为观察组,并以仅行门静脉主干分离,显露左肾、左肾静脉操作后的大鼠为对照组进行试验观察。研究发现,建模后第7、14、28天,观察组大鼠门静脉压力均显著升高(p0.05);在14、28 d时,观察组大鼠的HIF-1α、VEGF表达强度均明显高于对照组(p0.05),且建模后各时间点i NOS、ec NOS表达也均明显高于对照组(p0.05)。这表明VEGF、HIF-1α、i NOS及ec NOS的异常高表达,在食管静脉曲张的形成过程中发挥了重要作用,可为临床深入研究其发病机制提供理论依据。     

慢性缺氧的猪肺动脉内皮细胞在急性缺氧时PDGF-B链mRNA的表达

采用原位杂交技术结合图象分析检测常氧(PO2±21.3kPa)及慢性缺氧(P025.3±0.7kPa)培养的猪肺动脉内皮细胞PDGF-BmRNA的表达及其对急性缺氧刺激的反应.结果常氧及慢性缺氧培养的肺动脉内皮细胞(PAEC)在急性缺氧后PDGF-BmRNA表达均增加(P＜0.05),以第4、6代慢性缺氧组升高的幅度更大.结果表明慢性缺氧可增强PAEC在急性缺氧时PDGF-BmRNA的表达,可能促进肺血管改建和肺动脉高压的发展.     

AQP1促进肺动脉平滑肌细胞的增殖与迁移

肺动脉平滑肌细胞(PASMCs)的迁移和增殖是肺动脉重塑进而造成肺动脉高压的主要病理基础。水通道蛋白1(AQP1)具有促进上皮细胞、内皮细胞迁移的作用,但机制不清。由于AQP1也表达于血管平滑肌细胞,推测AQP1可能参与缺氧诱导的PASMCs增殖及迁移。通过PCR和免疫印迹分析,检测AQP的表达以及缺氧对AQP表达水平的影响,并通过细胞迁移以及增殖实验观察AQP1在缺氧诱导的PASMCs迁移与增殖中的作用。AQP1在PASMCs和主动脉平滑肌细胞(Ao SMCs)均表达,但缺氧只增加PASMCs中AQP1的表达,以及促进PASMCs的迁移与增殖。敲除AQP1可抑制PASMCs的增殖以及缺氧诱导的细胞增殖和迁移。过表达AQP1促进PASMCs的增殖和迁移。缺氧促进β联蛋白在PASMCs内的表达。敲除β联蛋白后,抑制Ad AQP1所介导的PASMCs迁移与增殖。这些结果表明,缺氧可促进AQP1在肺动脉内的表达,AQP1可通过β联蛋白对PASMCs的增殖和迁移进行调节。     

钙通道阻断剂异搏定对缺氧性肺动脉高压形成的影响

为考察Ca~( )在缺氧性肺动脉高压形成中的作用,我们观察了钙通道阻断剂异搏定对慢性连续性缺氧大鼠肺动脉压及左右心功能的影响。将动物置于模拟海拔5000m高原的低压舱内,腹腔注射异搏定,剂量为4mg/kg BW,每日两次。实验结果表明:异搏定可以减弱缺氧15天所引起的肺动脉压升高和右心功能加强的程度,对颈动脉压及左心功能无明显影响,提示Ca~( )的跨膜内流是构成缺氧性肺动脉高压形成的重要基础之一。我们还比较了异搏定对缺氧持续时间不同(15天、10天、5天)的大鼠肺循环的影响,并讨论了异搏定发生作用的机制。     

SENP1在大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压形成中肺血管壁中表达及可能作用

目的:探讨大鼠低氧性肺动脉高压(HPH)形成过程中SENP1在肺小动脉的动态表达变化及作用。方法:40只成年雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为5组(n=8):对照组和缺氧3 d、7 d、14 d2、1 d组,常压间断低氧复制HPH大鼠模型。测各组大鼠平均肺动脉压(mPAP)、右心室肥大指数(RVHI)、血管形态学指标;原位杂交、逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测肺内SUMO特异性蛋白酶-1(SUMO-specific proteases-1,SENP1)mRNA表达,免疫组化、Westernblot检测其蛋白质水平。结果:①缺氧7 d后,肺小动脉出现血管重塑,且mPAP明显上升;低氧14 d后,肺小动脉重塑更明显,mPAP达高峰。RVHI在低氧14 d后明显增加。②原位杂交显示,SENP1 mRNA在对照组肺小动脉壁呈阳性表达,低氧后其相对量无明显变化。RT-PCR显示肺组织SENP1 mRNA表达与原位杂交所观察到的肺小动脉壁SENP1 mRNA变化趋势一致;SENP1蛋白在对照组呈阳性表达,低氧7 d后其表达量开始呈进行性下降。Western blot显示肺组织内SENP1蛋白表达与免疫组化观察到的肺小动脉壁SENP1蛋白变化趋势一致。③SENP1蛋白与mPAP、重塑指数、RVHI均呈负相关。结论:慢性低氧诱导肺小动脉壁SENP1蛋白降解,进而可能在HPH发病过程中发挥一定的作用。     

Expression and role of factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in pulmonary arteries of rat with hypoxia-induced hypertension

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha subunit (HIF-1alpha) plays a pivotal role during the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) by transactivating it' target genes. As an oxygen-sensitive attenuator, factor inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH) hydroxylates a conserved asparagine residue within the C-terminal transactivation domain of HIF-1alpha under normoxia and moderate hypoxia. FIH protein is downregulated in response to hypoxia, but its dynamic expression and role during the development of HPH remains unclear. In this study, an HPH rat model was established. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased significantly after 7 d of hypoxia. The pulmonary artery remodeling index became evident after 7 d of hypoxia, while the right ventricular hypertrophy index became significant after 14 d of hypoxia. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of HIF-1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a well-characterized target gene of HIF-1alpha, were markedly upregulated after exposure to hypoxia in pulmonary arteries. FIH protein in lung tissues declined after 7 d of hypoxia and continued to decline through the duration of hypoxia. FIH mRNA had few changes after exposure to hypoxia compared with after exposure to normoxia. In hypoxic rats, FIH protein showed significant negative correlation with VEGF mRNA and VEGF protein. FIH protein was negatively correlated with mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary artery remodeling index and right ventricular hypertrophy index. Taken together, our results suggest that, in the pulmonary arteries of rat exposed to moderate hypoxia, a time-dependent decrease in FIH protein may contribute to the development of rat HPH by enhancing the transactivation of HIF-1alpha target genes such as VEGF.     

低氧大鼠肺动脉内皮细胞VEGF变化与PKC活性关系的探讨

目的：探讨低氧培养大鼠肺动脉血管内皮细胞ＶＥＧＦ的表达变化与ＰＫＣ活性的关系。方法：培养大鼠肺动脉血管内皮细胞,观察低氧（１％Ｏ２）培养不同时间大鼠肺动脉血管内皮细胞浆、膜ＰＫＣ活性和培养液中ＶＥＧＦ水平变化;加入ＰＫＣ抑制剂（ｓｔａｕｒｏｓｐｏｒｉｎｅ）后,测定低氧、常氧培养不同时间二者的变化。结果：低氧时膜ＰＫＣ活性和培养液中ＶＥＧＦ水平明显升高（Ｐ＜０．０１）。而加入ＰＫＣ抑制剂后,常氧和低     

低氧对培养的肺血管周细胞凋亡的影响

为了研究低氧是否影响肺血管周细胞凋亡并参与腺泡内无肌肺动脉的构型重建, 用ＴＵＮＥＬ法和免疫组化方法, 观察低氧（Ｈ） 组和低氧肺动脉内皮细胞条件培养液（ＨＥＣＣＭ） 组对肺血管周细胞凋亡发生率及抑凋亡基因ｂｃｌ２ 蛋白表达的影响。结果表明：Ｈ组和ＨＥＣＣＭ 组的凋亡指数明显较对照组减小。Ｈ 组和ＨＥＣＣＭ 组ｂｃｌ２ 蛋白的表达量分别是ＮＥＣＣＭ 组的１１７ 倍、１１３ 倍, 是Ｎ组的１３３ 倍、１２７ 倍。提示低氧诱导的抑凋亡基因ｂｃｌ２ 的过度表达, 对周细胞凋亡发生的抑制作用和低氧促进的周细胞增生过程可能都参与无肌肺动脉的构型重建, 与肺动脉高压的形成有关。     

左旋精氨酸对低氧性肺动脉高压治疗作用的实验研究

目的：探讨结构型一氧化氮合酶（ｃＮＯＳ）,内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）在低氧性肺动脉高压（ＨＰＨ）发病中的机制及左旋精氢酸（Ｌ－Ａｒｇ）对ＨＰＨ的治疗作用。方法：３０只健康雄性ＳＤ大鼠平均分为三组：正常对照组（ＮＣ组）、低氧组（ＨＰ组）、低氧左旋精氨酸治疗组（ＬＴ组）。后组每日低氧前给予２００ｍｇ／ｋｇ Ｌ－Ａｒｇ。于低氧２１ｄ检测运动血流动力学,肺组织ＮＯ、ＥＴ－１含量,肺动脉内皮ｃＮＯＳ含量的改变,     

Differential and Reciprocal Regulation between Hypoxia-inducible Factor-α Subunits and Their Prolyl Hydroxylases in Pulmonary Arteries of Rat with Hypoxia-induced Hypertension

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-α subunits (HIF-1α,HIF-2α and HIF-3α),which play a pivotalrole during the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH),are regulated through post-U'anslational hydroxylation by their three prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing proteins (PHD 1,PHD2 and PHD3).PHDs could also be regulated by HIF.But differential and reciprocal regulation between HIF-α and PHDs duringthe development of HPH remains unclear.To investigate this problem,a rat HPH model was established.Meanpulmonary arterial pressure increased significantly after 7 d of hypoxia.Pulmonary artery remodeling indexand right ventricular hypertrophy became evident after 14 d of hypoxia.HIF-1α and HIF-2α mRNA increasedslightly after 7 d of hypoxia,but HIF-3α increased significantly after 3 d of hypoxia.The protein expressionlevels of all three HIF-α were markedly upregulated after exposure to hypoxia.PHD2 mRNA and proteinexpression levels were upregulated after 3 d of hypoxia;PHD 1 protein declined after 14 d of hypoxia withoutsignificant mRNA changes.PHD3 mRNA and protein were markedly upregulated after 3 d of hypoxia,then themRNA remained at a high level,but the protein declined after 14 d of hypoxia.In hypoxic animals,HIF-lotproteins negatively correlated with PHD2 proteins,whereas HIF-2α and HIF-3α proteins showed negativecorrelations with PHD3 and PHD 1 proteins,respectively.All three HIF-α proteins were positively correlatedwith PHD2 and PHD3 mRNA.In the present study,HIF-α subunits and PHDs showed differential andreciprocal regulation,and this might play a key pathogenesis role in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.     

Collagen-related gene and protein expression changes in the lung in response to chronic hypoxia

Collagen accumulation likely contributes to increased vascular and airway impedance in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH). Collagen exists in multiple subtypes and can accumulate via increased synthesis or decreased degradation. To better understand the individual contributions of fibrillar (FB) and basement membrane (BM) collagen, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) to pulmonary vascular and airway remodeling in HPH, we investigated the temporal changes in gene and protein expression in the lungs of mice exposed to hypoxia for 0, 3, 6, 10 and 15 days. The earliest and largest change in gene expression was of type I FB collagen, which was significantly increased over control levels at 6, 10 and 15 days of hypoxia (p  <  0.05). Type III FB and type IV BM collagen were increased at 10 and 15 days of hypoxia (p <  0.05); MMP and TIMP gene expression levels were typically higher but sometimes lower than control levels at various time points. Collagen protein content was increased in whole lungs as early as 6 days of hypoxia and increased monotonically with longer exposures. However, neither qualitative nor semi-quantitative analysis of immunohistochemistry demonstrated accumulation of type I FB collagen in compartments of the lung other than large airways, suggesting that other collagen subtypes may be important contributors to collagen protein accumulation. These results provide insight into the patterns of gene and protein expression relevant to collagen accumulation in the lung in response to chronic hypoxia, through which we can develop a better understanding of the time course of changes in matrix biology and biomechanics that occur in HPH.     

Grape seed procyanidin extract attenuates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting oxidative stress and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells proliferation

Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) play important roles in the pathological process of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH). Grape seed procyanidin extract (GSPE) possesses antioxidant properties and has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, the effect of GSPE on HPH remains unclear. In this study, adult Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to intermittent chronic hypoxia for 4 weeks to mimic a severe HPH condition. Hemodynamic and pulmonary pathomorphology data showed that chronic hypoxia significantly increased right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP), weight of the right ventricle/left ventricle plus septum (RV/LV+S) ratio and median width of pulmonary arteries. GSPE attenuated the elevation of RVSP, RV/LV+S, and reduced the pulmonary vascular structure remodeling. GSPE also increased the levels of SOD and reduced the levels of MDA in hypoxia-induced HPH model. In addition, GSPE suppressed Nox4 mRNA levels, ROS production and PASMCs proliferation. Meanwhile, increased expression of phospho-STAT3, cyclin D1, cyclin D3 and Ki67 in PASMCs caused by hypoxia was down-regulated by GSPE. These results suggested that GSPE might potentially prevent HPH via antioxidant and antiproliferative mechanisms.     

慢性缺氧对大鼠肺内皮素表达的影响

本文以ＡＢＣ法和原位杂交技术,观察了慢性缺氧时大鼠肺组织内内皮素－１（ＥＴ－１）的表达情况,结果发现：①正常肺血管内皮细胞有少许ＥＴ－１样阳性染色物质呈现。②缺氧ＩＷ后,肺内ＥＴ－１含量增加,主要位于肺血管内皮细胞和支气管粘膜上皮细胞。③缺氧２Ｗ和３Ｗ后,ＥＴ１阳性免疫物质进一步增加,于肺泡细胞内也见到阳性染色。④缺氧１Ｗ后肺内ＥＴ－１ｍＲＮＡ表达增加,缺氧２Ｗ和３Ｗ后,ＥＴ－１ｍＲＮＡ的表达进一步加强。提示缺氧可刺激肺内ＥＴ－１ｍＲＮＡ的表达,慢性缺氧时肺内ＥＴ－１持续分泌增加,这可能是缺氧性肺动脉高压发生的重要因素之一。     

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and pulmonary artery tissue cytokine expression are mediated by protein kinase C

Pulmonary arteries exhibit a marked vasoconstriction when exposed to hypoxic conditions. Although this may be an adaptive response to match lung ventilation with perfusion, the potential consequences of sustained pulmonary vasoconstriction include pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Concomitant production of proinflammatory mediators during hypoxia may exacerbate acute increases in pulmonary vascular resistance. We hypothesized that acute hypoxia causes pulmonary arterial contraction and increases the pulmonary artery tissue expression of proinflammatory cytokines via a protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated mechanism. To study this, isometric force displacement was measured in isolated rat pulmonary artery rings during hypoxia in the presence and absence of the PKC inhibitors calphostin C or chelerythrine. In separate experiments, pulmonary artery rings were treated with the PKC activator thymeleatoxin for 60 min. After hypoxia, with or without PKC inhibition, or PKC activation alone, pulmonary artery rings were subjected to mRNA analysis for TNF-alpha and IL-1beta via RT-PCR. Our results showed that, in isolated pulmonary arteries, hypoxia caused a biphasic contraction and increased expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA. Both effects were inhibited by PKC inhibition. PKC activation resulted in pulmonary artery contraction and increased the pulmonary artery expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA. These findings suggest that hypoxia induces the expression of inflammatory cytokines and causes vasoconstriction via a PKC-dependent mechanism. We conclude that PKC may have a central role in modulating hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and further elucidation of its involvement may lead to therapeutic application.