Acute hypobaric hypoxia augments ROCK2 protein level and activity

Indoor dryness and humidification-induced arsenic inhalation exposure above 4200 m in Ngari, China

Ngari Prefecture, Tibet, China, features its ultrahigh altitude above 4200 m, very little annual precipitation and extremely low relative humidity. Residents who have migrated to Tibet from the plains use indoor humidification to reduce the respiratory discomfort caused by prolonged exposure to dry indoor air. In this study, field investigations and analysis of residential indoor environments and humidification methods in Ngari Prefecture revealed that ninety-eight percent of humidifier consumers in the prefecture used low-cost ultrasonic humidifiers filled with indoor tap water. The results revealed that the arsenic (As) concentration of the tap water was 41.6 μg/L, over four times China's standards for drinking water quality (10 μg/L). The source As concentration in the air humidified by the tap water-filled ultrasonic humidifier is (619.8 ± 59.1) (ng/m³ ·air), while no As was detected in the air humidified by the evaporative humidifier. For ultrasonic humidifier with tap water-filled, the inhalation dose of a healthy adult was 45.4 ng/d. The minute ventilation volume of migrated residents who had been in Ngari for less than two years (12.5 ± 4.3 L/min) was greater than those of the long-term residents (10.0 ± 4.5 L/min), which may exacerbate the short-term inhalation exposure risk for migrated residents. To reduce the health risks associated with As exposure, evaporative humidifiers are recommended for households using domestic water. If ultrasonic humidifiers are used, the tap water must be purified with terminal filters.

N-VEGF, the Autoregulatory Arm of VEGF-A

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a secreted protein that stimulates angiogenesis in response to hypoxia. Under hypoxic conditions, a non-canonical long isoform called L-VEGF is concomitantly expressed with VEGF-A. Once translated, L-VEGF is proteolytically cleaved to generate N-VEGF and VEGF-A. Interestingly, while VEGF-A is secreted and affects the surrounding cells, N-VEGF is mobilized to the nucleus. This suggests that N-VEGF participates in transcriptional response to hypoxia. In this study, we performed a series of complementary experiments to examine the functional role of N-VEGF. Strikingly, we found that the mere expression of N-VEGF followed by its hypoxia-independent mobilization to the nucleus was sufficient to induce key genes associated with angiogenesis, such as Hif1α,VEGF-A isoforms, as well as genes associated with cell survival under hypoxia. Complementarily, when N-VEGF was genetically depleted, key hypoxia-induced genes were downregulated and cells were significantly susceptible to hypoxia-mediated apoptosis. This is the first report of N-VEGF serving as an autoregulatory arm of VEGF-A. Further experiments will be needed to determine the role of N-VEGF in cancer and embryogenesis.

Dietary Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Counteracts the Benefits of Statin Therapy in Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension

BACKGROUND

The mevalonate pathway generates endogenous cholesterol and intermediates including geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). By reducing GGPP production, statins exert pleiotropic or cholesterol-independent effects. The potential regulation of GGPP homeostasis through dietary intake and the interaction with concomitant statin therapy is unknown.

METHODS

We developed a sensitive high-pressure liquid chromatography technique to quantify dietary GGPP and conducted proteomics, qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction screening, and Western blot to determine signaling cascades, gene expression, protein-protein interaction, and protein membrane trafficking in wild-type and transgenic rats.

RESULTS

GGPP contents were highly variable depending on food source that differentially regulated blood GGPP levels in rats. Diets containing intermediate and high GGPP reduced or abolished the effects of statins in rats with hypoxia- and monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension: this was rescuable by methyl-allylthiosulfinate and methyl-allylthiosulfinate-rich garlic extracts. In human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells treated with statins, hypoxia activated RhoA in an extracellular GGPP-dependent manner. Hypoxia-induced ROCK2 (Rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2)/Rab10 (Ras-related protein rab-10) signaling was prevented by statin and recovered by exogenous GGPP. The hypoxia-activated RhoA/ROCK2 pathway in rat and human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells upregulated the expression of Ca²⁺-sensing receptor (CaSR) and HIMF (hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor), a mechanism attenuated by statin treatment and regained with exogenous GGPP. Rab10 knockdown almost abrogated hypoxia-promoted CaSR membrane trafficking, a process diminished by statin and resumed by exogenous GGPP. Hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension was reduced in rats with CaSR mutated at the binding motif of HIMF and the interaction between dietary GGPP and statin efficiency was abolished. In humans fed a high GGPP diet, blood GGPP levels were increased. This abolished statin-lowering effects on plasma GGPP, and also on hypoxia-enhanced RhoA activity of blood monocytes that was rescued by garlic extracts.

CONCLUSIONS

There is important dietary regulation of GGPP levels that interferes with the effects of statin therapy in experimental pulmonary hypertension. These observations rely on a key and central role of RhoA-ROCK2 cascade activation and Rab10-faciliated CaSR membrane trafficking with subsequent overexpression and binding of HIMF to CaSR. These findings warrant clinical investigation for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and perhaps other diseases by combining statin with garlic-derived methyl-allylthiosulfinate or garlic extracts and thus circumventing dietary GGPP variations.

Netrin-1 Dampens Hypobaric Hypoxia-Induced Lung Injury in Mice

Background: This study aimed to explore the effects of netrin-1 on hypobaric hypoxia-induced lung injury in mice. Methods: We exposed 6-8-week-old C57BL/6 mice to hypobaric stress at 340 mmHg for 30 minutes followed by 260 mmHg for different periods (6, 12, 18, and 24 hours) to observe the severity of lung injury (O₂ concentration, 21%; 54.6 mmHg). The wet/dry weight ratio and protein leakage from the mouse lung were used to determine the suitable exposure time. Netrin-1 was injected into the tail vein of mice before 18-hour decompression. Inflammatory cytokines, lung injury scores, and activity of nuclear factor κB were evaluated. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins was also examined. Results: Protein concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was significantly higher in the 18-hour group (p < 0.05). Pulmonary pathology revealed neutrophil infiltration, alveolar septum thickening, and tissue edema. Injury score and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 levels were also increased. Intrinsic apoptosis pathway was activated. Hypoxia decreased the expression of Bcl2 protein, the number of active caspase-3-stained cells, and UNC5HB receptors. Pretreatment with netrin-1 reduced protein leakage, inhibited neutrophil migration, lowered the injury score, attenuated apoptosis, and increased UNC5HB receptor expression. Conclusion: Netrin-1 dampens hypobaric hypoxia-induced lung injury by inhibiting neutrophil migration and attenuating apoptosis.