Trauma-hemorrhage and hypoxia differentially influence kupffer cell phagocytic capacity: role of hypoxia-inducible-factor-1alpha and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt activation.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether Kupffer cell phagocytosis is differentially regulated following hypoxia (by breathing hypoxic gas) and trauma-hemorrhage. We hypothesized that the differences might result from a differential activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway under those conditions.


BACKGROUND
HIF-1alpha is a biologic O2 sensor enabling adaptation to hypoxia. Studies have shown that under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1alpha enhances macrophage phagocytosis. Trauma-hemorrhage also produces a hypoxic insult with HIF-1alpha activation; however, macrophage phagocytosis is suppressed under those conditions. Thus, signaling molecules other than HIF-1alpha should be taken into consideration in the regulation of macrophage phagocytosis following cellular hypoxia or trauma-hemorrhage.


METHODS
Male C3H/HeN mice were subjected to sham operation, trauma-hemorrhage (laparotomy, 90 minutes hemorrhagic shock, MAP 35 +/- 5 mm Hg followed by resuscitation) or hypoxia (5% O2 for 120 minutes). The trauma-hemorrhage and hypoxia groups received Wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor), YC-1 (HIF-1alpha inhibitor) or vehicle at the time of maximum bleedout in the trauma-hemorrhage group or at a PaO2 of 30 mm Hg during hypoxic air inhalation. Mice were killed 2 hours later and samples/cells collected.


RESULTS
While the systemic and Kupffer cell hypoxic states were similar in the trauma-hemorrhage and hypoxia groups, phagocytic capacity was suppressed following trauma-hemorrhage but enhanced in the hypoxia group. Kupffer cells from both groups showed increased HIF-1alpha activation, which was prevented by Wortmannin or YC-1 treatment. The increase in Kupffer cell phagocytosis following hypoxemia was also prevented by Wortmannin or YC-1 treatment. Akt activation was suppressed in the trauma-hemorrhage group, but enhanced in the hypoxia group. Wortmannin and YC-1 treatment prevented the increase in Akt activation.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the suppression of Kupffer cell phagocytosis following trauma-hemorrhage is independent of cellular hypoxia and activation of HIF-1alpha, but it is possibly related to suppression of the Akt activation.
Center for Surgical Research and Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-0019, USA.
Chi-Hsun
CH
Hsieh
Eike A
EA
Nickel
Jun-Te
JT
Hsu
Martin G
MG
Schwacha
Kirby I
KI
Bland
Irshad H
IH
Chaudry
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases