Perfusion technique determines alveolar fluid resorption rate in the isolated perfused rat lung

3,3′,5-Triiodo-l-thyronine Up-regulation of Na,K-ATPase Activity and Cell Surface Expression in Alveolar Epithelial Cells Is Src Kinase- and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-dependent

We previously reported that thyroid hormone, 3,3',5-triiodo-l-thyronine (T3), increased Na,K-ATPase activity of adult rat alveolar epithelial cells in a transcription-independent manner via increased cell surface expression of the alpha(1) and beta(1) subunits of Na,K-ATPase. Now we sought to identify signaling molecules necessary for T3 stimulation of Na,K-ATPase activity in alveolar epithelial cells. Whereas protein kinase A inhibitor H-8 and protein kinase C inhibitor bisindolymaleimide did not block the T3-induced increase in Na,K-ATPase activity, two inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), wortmannin and Ly294002, and two Src kinase inhibitors, PP1 and PP2, blocked the T3-induced Na,K-ATPase activity. T3 stimulated the activity of PI3K as measured by phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate. T3 also stimulated the serine 473 phosphorylation of the PI3K downstream molecule PKB/Akt in a dose-dependent manner. Transient expression of a constitutively active mutant of the PI3K catalytic subunit p110 augmented Na,K-ATPase activity and increased the amount of cell surface Na,K-ATPase alpha(1) subunit protein. T3 also stimulated Src family kinase activity. Transient expression of a constitutively active Src kinase increased Na,K-ATPase activity, PI3K activity, and phosphorylation of PKB/Akt at serine 473. PP1 or PP2 blocked T3-stimulated PKB/Akt phosphorylation at serine 473 and PI3K activity that was activated by an active mutant of Src; however, wortmannin did not inhibit the T3-stimulated Src kinase activity. Although PP1 and wortmannin abolished the increase in Na,K-ATPase activity induced by the active mutant of Src, PP1 did not inhibit the active mutant of PI3K-up-regulated Na,K-ATPase activity. In summary, T3 stimulates the PI3K/PKB pathway via the Src family of tyrosine kinases, and activation of both the Src family kinases and PI3K is required for the T3-induced stimulation of Na,K-ATPase activity and its cell surface expression in adult rat alveolar epithelial cells.

Invited review: lung edema clearance: role of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase

Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is a consequence of edema accumulation due to elevation of pulmonary capillary pressures and/or increases in permeability of the alveolocapillary barrier. It has been recognized that lung edema clearance is distinct from edema accumulation and is largely effected by active Na(+) transport out of the alveoli rather than reversal of the Starling forces, which control liquid flux from the pulmonary circulation into the alveolus. The alveolar epithelial Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase has an important role in regulating cell integrity and homeostasis. In the last 15 yr, Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase has been localized to the alveolar epithelium and its contribution to lung edema clearance has been appreciated. The importance of the alveolar epithelial Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase function is reflected in the changes in the lung's ability to clear edema when the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase is inhibited or increased. An important focus of the ongoing research is the study of the mechanisms of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase regulation in the alveolar epithelium during lung injury and how to accelerate lung edema clearance by modulating Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity.

Chronic intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia increases pulmonary arterial pressure and haematocrit in rats

Sleep-disordered breathing is associated with pulmonary hypertension and raised haematocrit. The multiple episodes of apnoea in this condition cause chronic intermittent hypoxia and hypercapnia but the effects of such blood gas changes on pulmonary pressure or haematocrit are unknown. The present investigation tests the hypothesis that chronic intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia causes increased pulmonary arterial pressure and erythropoiesis. Rats were treated with alternating periods of normoxia and hypercapnic hypoxia every 30 s for 8 h per day for 5 days per week for 5 weeks, as a model of the intermittent blood gas changes which occur in sleep-disordered breathing in humans. Haematocrit, red blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration were measured each week and systemic and pulmonary arterial blood pressure and heart weight were measured after 5 weeks. In relation to control, chronic intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia caused a significant increase in systemic (104.3+/-4.7 mmHg versus 121.0+/-10.4 mmHg) and pulmonary arterial pressure (20.7+/-6.8 mmHg versus 31.3+/-7.2 mmHg), right ventricular weight (expressed as ratios) and haematocrit (45.2+/-1.0% versus 51.5+/-1.5%). It is concluded that the pulmonary hypertension and elevated haematocrit associated with sleep-disordered breathing is caused by chronic intermittent hypercapnic hypoxia.

Time course of active and passive liquid and solute movement in the isolated perfused rat lung model

The isolated perfused rat lung model (IL) is used to study alveolar epithelial transport properties. Most of the previous studies have been done over a short period of time and have not used the same preparation as a control and intervention group. We evaluated whether the IL preparation could be used for a prolonged period of time (5 h) and studied the rates of active Na+ transport, lung liquid clearance, and passive movement of solutes. Active Na+ transport and lung liquid clearance were stable from 1 to 5 h. The passive movement of small solutes (Na+, mannitol) did not change significantly, and albumin movement increased slightly at the fifth hour. Total RNA isolated from IL after 5 h was intact, and the Na+-K+-ATPase activity in alveolar type II cells isolated at the end of 5-h experiments was equal to Na+-K+-ATPase function from freshly isolated alveolar type II cells. Finally, we measured the stimulatory effect of the beta-adrenergic-agonist terbutaline and the inhibitory effect of the Na+-K+-ATPase-antagonist ouabain by using the same animal as a control. Accordingly, the isolated perfused lung model is functionally stable for at least 5 h, and it could be utilized to evaluate the effect of different interventions by using the same preparation.