Responses of baboons to prolonged hyperoxia: physiology and qualitative pathology.

Cardiopulmonary responses to prolonged hyperoxia and their relationships to the development of lung pathology have not been fully characterized in primates. In this study, circulatory hemodynamics and pulmonary function, vascular permeability, and leukocyte sequestration were measured in male baboons after 100% O2 exposure and related to ultrastructural changes of lung injury by electron microscopy. Three groups of animals were exposed to 100% O2 in an exposure cage for 40, 66, and 80 h, respectively. A fourth group of animals was exposed in a cage for 80 h and then anesthetized and ventilated with 100% O2 for additional time. These animals were exposed for a total duration of 110 h or until death from the injury. Physiological responses to hyperoxia were characterized by decreases in total lung capacity and inspiratory capacity at 80 and 110 h. A significant increase in pulmonary leukocyte accumulation was noted by 80 h. Extravascular lung water and permeability surface-area product increased at 80 and 110 h. Cardiac output and stroke volume also decreased, and systemic vascular resistance increased after 80 and 110 h of hyperoxia. Histopathological changes were present in the lungs of all but the 40-h exposure group. Animals exposed for 66 h showed endothelial injury and neutrophil accumulation. By 80 h, animals showed endothelial cell destruction, interstitial edema, and type I cell injury. At 110 h, animals showed substantial destruction of endothelial and type I epithelial cells, exposure of alveolar basement membrane, congestion of capillaries, and substantial interstitial edema. The data indicate that histological changes by electron microscopy precede physiological responses to hyperoxic pulmonary injury in baboons by as much as 14 h and that the physiological responses to early hyperoxic injury are relatively insensitive to the pathological injury.     

Effects of acute hypoxia and hyperoxia on respiratory rate in albino rats chronically exposed to hypoxia

Changes in respiratory frequencies with hypoxic or hyperoxic exposure were studied in: 12 normoxic control rats (N) born and raised in normoxic environment at sea level; 12 rats (A) born and raised in normoxic environment at sea level exposed to normobaric hypoxia (10% O2 in N2) as adults; 12 rats of first generation (G1) raised in the above mentioned hypoxic environment since a few hours after birth; 12 rats of third generation (G3) conceived and born in the hypoxic environment of hypoxic parents of second generation and maintained continuously under hypoxic conditions until their utilization. The response of A rats to 10% O2 and 7% O2 breathing was elevated (57% and 86% over air breathing). The mean respiratory frequency of A rats exposed to 7% O2 rose to a greater extent than did that of N rats. The G1 and G3 rats were less responsive to 7% O2 (64% and 37% over air breathing, respectively) than N and A rats; however, in G1 rats the exposure to 7% O2 produced a greater rise of frequency than in G3 rats. Furthermore A rats, G1 rats and G3 rats were less responsive to 97% O2 breathing (19%, 19% and 11% below air breathing, respectively). Comparing these data with previous findings we suggest that, with chronic exposure to hypoxia, changes in ventilatory response to hypoxia and hyperoxia occur in the following manner: I) loss of response to hypoxia if chronic exposure is begun in the immediate postnatal period; 2) degree of response to hypoxia or hyperoxia influenced by duration of chronic exposure.     

Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in different gas mixtures

Campylobacter jejuni in fresh chilled chicken meat is known to be a major risk factor for human gastrointestinal disease. In the present study, the survival under chilled conditions of different C. jejuni strains exposed to different gas mixtures usually used for gas packaging of food was examined. Bolton broth and fresh, skinless chicken fillets were inoculated with six and four strains, respectively, and exposed to the gas mixtures 70/30% O(2)/CO(2), 70/30% N(2)/CO(2), and 100% N(2) (the latter only investigated in broth) at refrigeration temperature (4-5 degrees C). In broth culture, the strains survived significantly longer when exposed to 100% N(2) and 70/30% N(2)/CO(2) than in the oxygen-containing gas mixture, 70/30% O(2)/CO(2) (P<0.0001). For the two anaerobic gas mixtures, the reductions only reached 0.3-0.8 log(10) CFU mL(-1) within the same period. In the presence of oxygen, the numbers of C. jejuni were reduced by a minimum of 4.6 log(10) CFU mL(-1) over 21 days. When inoculated onto chicken fillets, the C. jejuni strains also died significantly faster in the oxygen-containing gas mixture, 70/30% O(2)/CO(2) (P<0.0001), reaching reductions of 2.0-2.6 log(10) CFU g(-1) after 8 days. In the gas mixture without oxygen (70/30% N(2)/CO(2)), no reductions were observed.     

Hyperoxia reduces plasma membrane fluidity: a mechanism for endothelial cell dysfunction

To evaluate the relative contributions of three possible mechanisms that can be advanced to explain the observation that hyperoxia decreases serotonin uptake by endothelial cells, we examined the effect of high O2 tensions on Na+-K+-ATPase activity, ATP content, and plasma membrane fluidity in cultured endothelial cells. Confluent monolayers of pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells were exposed to 95% O2 (hyperoxia) or 20% O2 (controls) in 5% CO2 at 1 ATA for 4-42 h. Exposure to high O2 tensions had no effect on Na+-K+-ATPase activity or ATP content in pulmonary artery or aortic endothelial cells in culture. However, hyperoxia decreased the fluidity of the plasma membrane of pulmonary artery and aortic endothelial cells in culture, and the time course for the decrease in fluidity parallels that of the hyperoxic inhibition of serotonin transport. These results indicate that hyperoxia decreases fluidity in the hydrophobic core of the plasma membranes of cultured endothelial cells. Such decreases in plasma membrane fluidity may be responsible for hyperoxia-induced alterations in membrane function including decreases in transmembrane transport of amines.     

Xanthine oxidase mediates elastase-induced injury to isolated lungs and endothelium

Xanthine oxidase (XO)-generated toxic O2 metabolites appear to contribute to reperfusion injury, but the possibility that XO is involved in hyperoxic or neutrophil elastase-mediated injury has not been investigated. We found that lungs isolated from rats fed a tungsten-rich diet had negligible XO activities and after exposure to hyperoxia developed less acute edematous injury during perfusion with buffer or purified neutrophil elastase than XO-replete lungs from control rats which had been exposed to hyperoxia. In parallel, tungsten-treated XO-depleted cultured bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells made less superoxide anion and as monolayers leaked less 125I-labeled albumin after exposure to neutrophil elastase than XO-replete endothelial cell monolayers. Our findings suggest that XO-derived O2 metabolites contribute to acute edematous lung injury from hyperoxia directly and by enhancing susceptibility to neutrophil elastase.     

Effect of hyperoxia on glutathione levels and glutamic acid uptake in endothelial cells

Intracellular glutathione was increased by 80% after exposure of bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells to 80% O2 (hyperoxia) for 24 h. No change in glutathione occurred in cells exposed to hypoxia (3% O2) for a corresponding period of time. The rate of uptake of [3H]glutamic acid also increased by 35-55% after 24 h of exposure of cells to hyperoxia, whereas exposure to hypoxia had no effect on the [3H]glutamic acid uptake. The increase in glutamic acid uptake reflected a specific effect on amino acid transport systems rather than a change in cell membrane permeability. The major portion of the increased uptake was inhibited by the elimination of sodium and the addition of the competitive inhibitor, cystine, to the incubation medium. Thus increases in glutamic acid uptake parallel increases in cellular glutathione, and glutamic acid may be a regulating factor in the increase in glutathione after exposure to hyperoxia.     

Monoamine Synthesis and Concentration in Neonatal Rat Brain During Hypercapnia and Recovery

One-day-old rats were exposed to a gas mixture of 15% CO2-21% O2-64% N2 for a 30-min period. Monoamine synthesis in whole brain was measured during, and at various intervals after, hypercapnia by estimating the accumulation of dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) after inhibition of aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase with NSD 1015. Endogenous concentrations of tyrosine, dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured at the same intervals. Exposure to CO2 induced an increased synthesis of catecholamines and 5-HT. Further, an increase in DA concentration was seen during hypercapnia, while NA and 5-HT were unchanged. After the CO2 exposure the increased in vivo synthesis rates of catecholamines and 5-HT were rapidly normalized, as was the endogenous DA concentration. A slight increase in 5-HT and 5-HIAA concentrations was seen immediately after CO2 exposure. These results indicate that in neonatal animals, hypercapnia induces changes in central monoamine neurons, primarily an increased synthesis. These alterations may be relevant to some physiological changes seen during CO2 exposure, such as the alteration in central respiratory performance.     

Production of arachidonic acid metabolites by endothelial cells in hyperoxia

This study investigated the response of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells to incubation in hyperoxia (95% O2-5% CO2). Changes in cell number and morphology, release of lactate dehydrogenase, and production of arachidonic acid metabolites were assessed during continuous exposure of confluent endothelial monolayers to air (air-5% CO2, "controls") or O2 (95% O2-5% CO2, "O2-exposed") for periods of 12-72 h. Control monolayer cell numbers remained constant (approximately 2,000,000 cells/flask), whereas the number of cells in O2-exposed monolayers decreased progressively to 30% of controls (P less than 0.01) by 72 h. As assessed by radioimmunoassay, both control and O2-exposed cells produced the prostacyclin metabolite, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), but no thromboxane metabolite (TxB2) was detected. The O2-exposed cells released significantly more 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGF2 alpha than control cells when apparent net production rates over the entire 72-h period were compared. In addition, both control and O2-exposed (48 h) endothelial monolayers released immunoreactive leukotriene B4 (LTB4) on stimulation with calcium ionophore (10 microM A23187). As with the cyclooxygenase products, O2-exposed cells released more immunoreactive LTB4 than did controls. Both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid are released by cultured endothelial cells during the development of O2 toxicity.     

Pulmonary diffusing capacities for nitric oxide and carbon monoxide determined by rebreathing in dogs

Pulmonary diffusing capacities (DL) of NO and CO were determined simultaneously from rebreathing equilibration kinetics in anesthetized paralyzed supine dogs (mean body wt 20 kg) after denitrogenation (replacement of N2 by Ar). During rebreathing the dogs were ventilated in closed circuit with a gas mixture containing 0.06% NO, 0.06% 13C18O, and 1% He in Ar for 15 s, with tidal volume of 0.5 liter and frequency of 60/min. The partial pressures of NO, 13C18O, 16O18O, N2, Ar, CO2, and He in the trachea were continuously analyzed by mass spectrometry. Measurements were performed at various O2 levels characterized by the mean end-expired PO2 during rebreathing (PE'O2). In control conditions ("normoxia," PE'O2 = 67 +/- 8 Torr) the following mean +/- SD values were obtained (in ml.min-1.Torr-1): DLNO = 52.4 +/- 11.0 and DLCO = 15.4 +/- 2.9. In hypoxia (PE'O2 = 24 +/- 7 Torr) DLNO increased by 11 +/- 8% and DLCO by 19 +/- 10%, and in hyperoxia (PE'O2 = 390 +/- 26 Torr) DLNO decreased to 87 +/- 3% and DLCO to 56 +/- 8% with respect to values in normoxia. DLNO/DLCO of 3.24 +/- 0.06 (hypoxia), 3.38 +/- 0.31 (normoxia), and 5.54 +/- 1.04 (hyperoxia) were significantly higher than the NO/CO Krogh diffusion constant ratio (1.92) predicted for simple diffusion through aqueous layers. With increasing O2 uptake elicited by 2,4-dinitrophenol, DLNO and DLCO increased and DLNO/DLCO remained close to unchanged. The results suggest that the combined effects of diffusion and chemical reaction with hemoglobin limit alveolar-capillary transport of CO. If it is assumed that reaction kinetics of NO with hemoglobin (known to be extremely fast) are not rate limiting for NO uptake, the contribution of the slow chemical reaction with hemoglobin to the total CO uptake resistance (= 1/DLCO) was estimated to be 38% in hypoxia, 41% in normoxia, and 64% in hyperoxia. The various factors expected to restrict the validity of this analysis are discussed, in particular the effects of functional inhomogeneity.     

Effect of steroid on hyperoxia-induced ICAM-1 expression in pulmonary endothelial cells

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) of the vascular endothelium plays a key role in the development of pulmonary oxygen toxicity. We studied the effect of steroid on hyperoxia-induced ICAM-1 expression using cultured endothelial cells in vitro. Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) were cultured to confluence, and then the monolayers were exposed to either control (21% O(2)-5% CO(2)) or hyperoxic (90% O(2)-5% CO(2)) conditions with and without a synthetic glucocorticoid, methylprednisolone (MP). MP reduced hyperoxia-induced ICAM-1 and ICAM-1 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. Neutrophil adhesion to hyperoxia-exposed endothelial cells was also inhibited by MP treatment. In addition, MP attenuated hyperoxia-induced H(2)O(2) production in HPAECs as assessed by flow cytometry. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that hyperoxia activated nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) but not activator protein-1 (AP-1) and that MP attenuated hyperoxia-induced NF-kappaB activation dose dependently. With Western immunoblot analysis, IkappaB-alpha expression was decreased by hyperoxia and increased by MP treatment. These results suggest that MP downregulates hyperoxia-induced ICAM-1 expression by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation via increased IkappaB-alpha expression.     

Extracellular ATP-mediated signaling for survival in hyperoxia-induced oxidative stress

Respiratory failure is a serious consequence of lung cell injury caused by treatment with high inhaled oxygen concentrations. Human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC) are a principal target of hyperoxic injury (hyperoxia). Cell stress can cause release of ATP, and this extracellular nucleotide can activate purinoreceptors and mediate responses essential for survival. In this investigation, exposure of endothelial cells to an oxidative stress, hyperoxia, caused rapid but transient ATP release (20.03 +/- 2.00 nm/10(6) cells in 95% O(2) versus 0.08 +/- 0.01 nm/10(6) cells in 21% O2 at 30 min) into the extracellular milieu without a concomitant change in intracellular ATP. Endogenously produced extracellular ATP-enhanced mTOR-dependent uptake of glucose (3467 +/- 102 cpm/mg protein in 95% oxygen versus 2100 +/- 112 cpm/mg protein in control). Extracellular addition of ATP-activated important cell survival proteins like PI 3-kinase and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK-1/2). These events were mediated primarily by P2Y receptors, specifically the P2Y2 and/or P2Y6 subclass of receptors. Extracellular ATP was required for the survival of HLMVEC in hyperoxia (55 +/- 10% surviving cells with extracellular ATP scavengers [apyrase + adenosine deaminase] versus 95 +/- 12% surviving cells without ATP scavengers at 4 d of hyperoxia). Incubation with ATP scavengers abolished ATP-dependent ERK phosphorylation stimulated by hyperoxia. Further, ERK activation also was found to be important for cell survival in hyperoxia, as treatment with PD98059 enhanced hyperoxia-mediated cell death. These findings demonstrate that ATP release and subsequent ATP-mediated signaling events are vital for survival of HLMVEC in hyperoxia.     

The contribution of vascular endothelial xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase to oxygen-mediated cell injury.

The conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) to xanthine oxidase (XO) and the reaction of XO-derived partially reduced oxygen species (PROS) have been suggested to be important in diverse mechanisms of tissue pathophysiology, including oxygen toxicity. Bovine aortic endothelial cells expressed variable amounts of XDH and XO activity in culture. Xanthine dehydrogenase plus xanthine oxidase specific activity increased in dividing cells, peaked after achieving confluency, and decreased in postconfluent cells. Exposure of BAEC to hyperoxia (95% O2; 5% CO2) for 0-48 h caused no change in cell protein or DNA when compared to normoxic controls. Cell XDH+XO activity decreased 98% after 48 h of 95% O2 exposure and decreased 68% after 48 h normoxia. During hyperoxia, the percentage of cell XDH+XO in the XO form increased to 100%, but was unchanged in air controls. Cell catalase activity was unaffected by hyperoxia and lactate dehydrogenase activity was minimally elevated. Hyperoxia resulted in enhanced cell detachment from monolayers, which increased 112% compared to controls. Release of DNA and preincorporated [8-14C]adenine was also used to assess hyperoxic cell injury and did not significantly change in exposed cells. Pretreatment of cells with allopurinol for 1 h inhibited XDH+XO activity 100%, which could be reversed after oxidation of cell lysates with potassium ferricyanide (K3Fe(CN)6). After 48 h of culture in air with allopurinol, cell XDH+XO activity was enhanced when assayed after reversal of inhibition with K3Fe(CN)6, and cell detachment was decreased. In contrast, allopurinol treatment of cells 1 h prior to and during 48 h of hyperoxic exposure did not reduce cell damage. After K3Fe(CN)6 oxidation, XDH+XO activity was undetectable in hyperoxic cell lysates. Thus, XO-derived PROS did not contribute to cell injury or inactivation of XDH+XO during hyperoxia. It is concluded that endogenous cell XO was not a significant source of reactive oxygen species during hyperoxia and contributes only minimally to net cell production of O2- and H2O2 during normoxia.     

Endothelial Akt activation by hyperoxia: role in cell survival

High oxygen concentrations (hyperoxia), often required in the treatment of preterm infants and critically ill patients, cause lung injury, targeting especially the endothelium. Exposure of primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC) to hyperoxia caused transient Akt activation after 60 min, as determined by Western blot analysis of phosphorylated Ser 473 of Akt. Akt phosphorylation was also increased after 24 h of hyperoxic exposure, which declined at 48 h. Adenoviral (Ad)-mediated expression of constitutively active myrAkt protected HLMVEC against hyperoxic injury. Cell death due to hyperoxia (95% O2, 8 days), which was primarily necrotic, was substantial in control and Ad-LacZ-transduced cells, but was diminished by almost half in myrAkt-transduced cells. Hyperoxia caused increased cellular glucose consumption, an effect that was amplified in cells transduced with myrAkt compared to the LacZ-transduced or the nontransduced controls. Increased glucose consumption in myrAkt-expressing cells was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of mTOR and p70 S6-kinase. Rapamycin treatment decreased glucose consumption in myrAkt-transduced cells to levels comparable to those in control and LacZ-transduced cells exposed to hyperoxia. Ultrastructural morphometric analyses demonstrated that mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were less swollen in myrAkt cells relative to controls exposed to hyperoxia. These studies demonstrate that early activation of Akt occurs in hyperoxia in HLMVEC. That this event is a beneficial response is suggested by the finding that constitutive activation of Akt protects against hyperoxic stress, at least in part, by maintaining mitochondrial integrity.     

Differential effects of hyperoxia and hydrogen peroxide on DNA damage, polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase activity, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and adenosine triphosphate contents in cultured endothelial cells and fibroblasts

The effects of oxidative stress on DNA damage and associated reactions, increased polyadenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP) activity and decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents, have been tested in primary cultures of porcine aortic endothelial cells. The cells were treated with 50-500 microM H2O2 for 20 min or 100 microM paraquat for 3 days or were exposed to 95% O2 for 2 and 5 days. The administration of 250-500 microM H2O2 resulted in a marked increase in PARP activity and a profound depletion of ATP and NAD. Although hyperoxia had no effect on PARP activity and reduced only slightly the ATP and NAD stores, it markedly reduced the ability of endothelial cells to increase PARP activity upon exposure to DNase. Paraquat had a similar effect. Human dermal fibroblasts were also exposed to 50-500 microM H2O2 for 20 min or 95% O2 for 5 days. Their response to H2O2 differed from that of endothelial cells by their ability to maintain the ATP content at a normal level. Fibroblasts were also insensitive to the effect of hyperoxia. These results suggest that the oxidant-related DNA damage is a function of the type of oxidative stress used and may be cell-specific.     

Antioxidants preserve macrophage phagocytosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa during hyperoxia

Pseudomonas. aeruginosa (PA) is a leading cause of nosocomial pneumonia in patients receiving mechanical ventilation with hyperoxia. Exposure to supraphysiological concentrations of reactive oxygen species during hyperoxia may result in macrophage damage that reduces their ability to phagocytose PA. We tested this hypothesis in cultured macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells and alveolar macrophages from mice exposed to hyperoxia. Exposure to hyperoxia induced a similarly impaired phagocytosis of both the mucoid and the nonmucoid forms of PA in alveolar macrophages and RAW cells. Compromised PA phagocytosis was associated with cytoskeleton disorganization and actin oxidation in hyperoxic macrophages. To test whether moderate concentrations of O(2) limit the loss of phagocytic function induced by > or =95% O(2), mice and RAW cells were exposed to 65% O(2). Interestingly, although the resulting lung injury/cell proliferation was not significant, exposure to 65% O(2) resulted in a marked reduction in PA phagocytosis that was comparable to that of > or =95% O(2). Treatment with antioxidants, even post hyperoxic exposure, preserved actin cytoskeleton organization and phagocytosis of PA. These data suggest that hyperoxia reduces macrophage phagocytosis through effects on actin functions which can be preserved by antioxidant treatment. In addition, administration of moderate rather than higher concentrations of O2 does not improve macrophage phagocytosis of PA.     

Does CO2 enhance short-term storage success of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) milt?

Successful short-term storage of salmonid milt depends on numerous factors, including temperature, fluid volume, and gaseous environment, with storage at low temperatures under an atmosphere of 100% O2 being the most common method. Salmonid sperm maintained in a storage environment with elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, such as the approximately 4% CO2 in exhaled air, are not motile when activated. While these modest levels of CO2 inhibit sperm motility, the effect is reversible within hours after exposure to a CO2-free oxygenated environment. Therefore, the effect of CO2 (as a component gas in the storage environment) on chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) sperm motility and viability was examined. The hypothesis of the current investigation was that CO2-exposure with subsequent CO2 removal would be beneficial during short-term chinook salmon milt storage. Milt samples were collected from mature (adult) and precocious (jack) male chinook salmon and stored under various CO2 and O2 levels at 3 to 4 degrees C for up to 14 days. Milt samples were then removed from the incubation environments and maintained under CO2-free humidified air with continuous mixing for 4 h at 10 degrees C before analysis of motility. The resultant motility of samples incubated under 3.5% or less CO2 was not different than controls during the 14 d incubation period; motility of samples stored under higher CO2 tensions were significantly lower. The motility of samples incubated under 3.5% CO2 reached the maximum recovered motility after 2 h exposure to CO2-free humidified air, while the motility of sperm incubated under 13.4% CO2 levels recovered no motility even after 6 h exposure to CO2-free humidified air. The motility of samples incubated under normoxia was significantly greater than that of samples incubated under hyperoxia (approximately 90% O2) at both 7 and 14 d, regardless of the CO2 level. Sperm viability was relatively unaltered by any of the incubation conditions examined. The results of this investigation suggest that there is no apparent advantage to storage of chinook salmon sperm in the presence of CO2 and that storage under hyperoxia negatively affects sperm function compared to storage under normoxia.     

Effect of hypercapnia on thermoregulation at high ambient temperature

The reported investigations were carried out on rabbits exposed for three hours to ambient temperature of 25 degrees C or 35 degrees breathing athmospheric air (controls) or gas mixtures containing 4% or 7% of CO2. During the exposure to 35 degrees C in rabbits breathing the gas mixture with 7% of CO2 the rise of rectal temperature was significantly greater, heat elimination from the auricular surface was increased, whereas the oxygen uptake was increased insignificantly. In tracheostomized rabbits breathing the gas mixture with 7% of CO2 at 32 degrees C the respiratory rate decreased but the respiration volume increased as compared with the animals breathing atmospheric air. It seems that the hyperthermic effect of hypercapnia demonstrated in this work can be attributed to the impairment of heat elimination through the upper airways due to an inhibition of thermal panting.     

Hyperoxia augments pulmonary lipofibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants, and despite many advances, its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. Exposure of the premature lung to hyperoxia is commonly implicated in its pathogenesis. However, the exact link between hyperoxia and BPD, particularly its role in the generation of myofibroblasts, the signature cell-type for lung fibrosis, is undetermined. There is increasing evidence that lipid interstitial fibroblasts play an important role in injury-repair mechanisms in various organ systems. This study demonstrates that exposure to hyperoxia augments the transdifferentiation of pulmonary lipofibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Fetal rat lung fibroblasts (FRLF) from embryonic (e) (term = e22) 18 and e21 gestation were studied. After initial culture in minimum essential medium (MEM) and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in 21% O2 / 5% CO2 at 37 degrees C, FRLF were maintained in MEM and 10%FBS at 37 degrees C under control (21% O2 / 5% CO2) and under experimental conditions (24-hour exposure to 95% O2 /5% CO2) at passage (P) 1 and 5. At each passage, cells were allowed to attach to 100 cm2 culture dishes and grow in 21% O2 before being subjected to the experimental conditions. Passage 1 and 5 cells were analyzed for the expression of well-characterized lipogenic and myogenic markers based on semiquantitative competitive RT-PCR (for parathyroid hormone-related protein receptor [PTHrPR]), adipose differentiation related protein (ADRP), and alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA), triglyceride uptake, and leptin assay. Serial passage and maintenance of cells in 21% O2 resulted in a significant decrease in the expression of the lipogenic markers from P1 to P5, spontaneously. This decrease was greater for e18 than for e21 FRLF. However, exposing cells to 95% O2 augmented the loss of the lipogenic markers and gain of the myogenic marker from P1 to P5 in comparison to cells maintained in 21% O2. These changes were also greater for e18 vs e21 lipofibroblasts. These changes in mRNA expression were accompanied by decreased triglyceride uptake and leptin secretion on exposure to hyperoxia. These results suggest that exposure to hyperoxia (95% O2) augments the transdifferentiation of pulmonary lipofibroblasts to myofibroblasts.     

Acute hypoxia alters eicosanoid production of perfused pulmonary artery endothelial cells in culture.

Hypoxia alters vascular tone which regulates regional blood flow in the pulmonary circulation. Endothelial derived eicosanoids alter vascular tone and blood flow and have been implicated as modulators of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Eicosanoid production was measured in cultured bovine pulmonary endothelial cells during constant flow and pressure perfusion at two oxygen tensions (hypoxia: 4% O2, 5% CO2, 91% N2; normoxia: 21% O2, 5% CO2, 74% N2). Endothelial cells were grown to confluence on microcarrier beads. Cell cartridges (N = 8) containing 2 ml of microcarrier beads (congruent to 5 x 10(6) cells) were constantly perfused (3 ml/min) with Krebs' solutions (pH 7.4, T 37 degrees C) equilibrated with each gas mixture. After a ten minute equilibration period, lipids were extracted (C18 Sep Pak) from twenty minute aliquots of perfusate over three hours (nine aliquots per cartridge). Eicosanoids (6-keto PGF1 alpha; TXB2; and total leukotriene [LT - LTC4, LTD4, LTE4, LTF4]) were assayed by radioimmunoassay. Eicosanoid production did not vary over time. 6-keto PGF1 alpha production was increased during hypoxia (normoxia 291 +/- 27 vs hypoxia 395 +/- 35 ng/min/gm protein; p less than 0.01). Thromboxane production (normoxia 19 +/- 2 vs hypoxia 20 +/- 2 ng/min/gm protein) and total leukotriene production (normoxia 363 +/- 35 vs hypoxia 329 +/- 29 ng/min/gm protein) did not change with hypoxia. These data demonstrated that oxygen increased endothelial prostacyclin production but did not effect thromboxane or leukotriene production.     

Level and duration of developmental hyperoxia influence impairment of hypoxic phrenic responses in rats.

Developmental hyperoxia (1-4 wk of 60% O2) causes long-lasting impairment of hypoxic phrenic responses in rats. We hypothesized that shorter or less severe hyperoxic exposures would produce similar changes. Hypoxic phrenic responses were measured in 3- to 5-mo-old, urethane-anesthetized rats exposed to 60% O2 for postnatal day 1 or week 1 or to 30% O2 for postnatal week 1. Whereas 1 day of 60% O2 had no lasting effects (P > 0.05 vs. control), both 1 wk of 60% O2 and 1 wk of 30% O2 decreased adult hypoxic phrenic responses (P < 0.05 vs. control), although the effects of 30% O2 were smaller. Hypoxic ventilatory responses (expressed as the ratio of minute ventilation to metabolic CO2 production) were also reduced in unanesthetized rats (5-10 mo old) exposed to 1 wk of 60% O2 during development (P < 0.05). An age-dependent increase toward normal hypoxic phrenic responses was observed in rats exposed to 1 wk of 60% O2 (P < 0.05), suggesting a degree of spontaneous recovery not observed after 1 mo of 60% O2. These data indicate that long-lasting effects of developmental hyperoxia depend on the level and duration of hyperoxic exposure.