Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with decreased erythropoietin expression in rats.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels have been identified as a pathogenic factor causing a variety of pathological changes in different cells and tissues. In vertebrates, Hcy is produced solely from S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) through the catalysis of AdoHcy-hydrolase. The direction of AdoHcy-hydrolase activity is determined by its cytosolic substrate concentrations, thereby controlling intracellular AdoHcy levels. Most S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent methyltransferases are regulated in vivo by the ratio of AdoMet/AdoHcy, which is termed "methylation potential" (MP). To test whether high rates of erythropoietin (EPO) expression is reduced by a low MP in vivo we choosed the model of increased EPO production following carbon monoxide (CO) exposure in rats in which high transcriptional activity is responsible for renal EPO production.


RESULTS
To induce a sustained hyperhomocysteinemia in rats, we infused i.v. a low or high dose of Hcy resulting in Hcy plasma levels of 87.4+/-6.2 and 300.8+/-23.7 mumol/l, respectively. Renal tissue contents of AdoHcy, AdoMet, and adenosine (Ado) were measured after freeze clamp by means of HPLC. Within 4h of CO exposure EPO serum levels increased from 13.6+/-0.4 (control) to 2254.8+/-278.3 mIU/ml. Only high dose of Hcy reduces both, the MP from 40.8+/-2.0 to 8.2+/-1.0 in the kidney as well as EPO serum levels by 40% compared to control rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data show that severe hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) affects the MP in the renal tissue and lowers EPO expression following CO induced intoxication. This result supports the concept that efficient EPO production requires an unimpaired MP.
Grenz
Almut
A
Mucosal Inflammation Program, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
Hermes
Marina
M
Hammel
Peter
P
Roll
Jan B
JB
Osswald
Hartmut
H
Kloor
Doris
D
D043383:Adenosylhomocysteinase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000633:toxicity; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D020138:Hyperhomocysteinemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D006710:Homocysteine; D004921:Erythropoietin; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D043383:Adenosylhomocysteinase