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.
Ahmad
Aftab
A
Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
Ahmad
Shama
S
Chang
Ling-Yi
LY
Schaack
Jerome
J
White
Carl W
CW
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018496:Hyperoxia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D005947:Glucose