title: Differential effects of hypoxic stress in alveolar epithelial cells and microvascular endothelial cells.
abstract: Under hypoxic conditions eukaryotic cells and tissues undergo adaptive responses involving glycolysis, angiogenesis, vasoconstriction and inflammation. The underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet fully elucidated and are most likely cell and tissue specific. In the lung, alveolar epithelial cells and microvascular endothelial cells are highly sensitive to hypoxia and together orchestrate a rapid and sustained adaptive response. We examined the effect of different oxygen tensions on cell viability, glucose metabolism, key transcription factors and signaling molecules, in alveolar epithelial cells (A549) and microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). Both cell types tolerated hypoxia without detectable cell injury. Hypoxia induced glycolysis in both epithelial and microvascular endothelial cells, although A549 cells exhibited a higher rate of glucose consumption. The transcription factor CREB (cAMP response element binding protein) was activated with decreasing oxygen tensions in both cell types. This effect was again more marked in A549 cells, demonstrating epithelial cells to be more oxygen sensitive. Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF-3) was heavily induced by hypoxia in A549 cells but not in HMEC-1 cells. Both cell types exhibited hypoxia induced secretion of VEGF and IL-6. Secretion of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET1) was increased by hypoxia in HMEC-1 cells but decreased in A549 cells. These data reveal that both cell types exhibit an adaptive response to hypoxia but alveolar epithelial cells are generally more sensitive. ET-1 was oppositely regulated by decreased oxygen tensions in the investigated cell types. The present study further elucidates the adaptive molecular mechanisms in pulmonary hypoxia and demonstrates cell specific responses.
authors.affiliation: Innsbruck Medical University, Division of Physiology, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, Innsbruck, Austria. Sara.Signorelli@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Signorelli
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Martin O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pfaller
mesh_terms: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056809:Alveolar Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D055806:Microvessels / Q000166:cytology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051700:Activating Transcription Factor 3; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D019332:Endothelin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005947:Glucose; D010100:Oxygen