Endothelin-1 mediates hypoxia-induced increases in vascular collagen in the newborn mouse lung

Pediatr Res. 2007 May;61(5 Pt 1):559-64. doi: 10.1203/pdr.0b013e318045beae.

Abstract

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) mediates hypoxia-mediated pulmonary vascular remodeling (HPVR), and endothelin-A receptor (ET-AR) blockade prevents HPVR in newborn mice. Our objective was to determine postnatal effects of chronic hypoxia and/or ET-AR blockade on lung ET-1, ET-AR, ET-BR, and vascular collagen and elastin. Newborn C57BL/6 mice (n = 6-8/gp) given either BQ610 (ET-AR blocker) or vehicle were exposed to air or hypoxia (12% O2) from birth for 1, 3, or 14 d. Lung ET-1 was assessed by ELISA, and ET-AR and ET-BR by immunohistochemistry. Vascular collagen and elastin were assessed by quantitative image analysis. ET-1, ET-AR, ET-BR, collagen I and III, and tropoelastin mRNA levels were assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. We observed that: 1) hypoxia attenuated the normal postnatal decrease in ET-1 and collagen content; 2) ET-AR blockade reduced collagen independent of O2; 3) hypoxia increased elastin mRNA expression and attenuated the normal postnatal decrease in elastin content; and 4) BQ610 reduced elastin mRNA but not elastin content. We conclude that, in neonatal mice, hypoxia attenuates normal postnatal decreases in ET-1, vascular collagen, and elastin. ET-AR blockade reduces collagen fiber area but not mRNA, and does not decrease elastin despite reducing its expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism*
  • Collagen / metabolism*
  • Elastin / metabolism
  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin-1 / genetics
  • Endothelin-1 / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Hypoxia*
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptor, Endothelin A / metabolism
  • Receptor, Endothelin B / metabolism

Substances

  • Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists
  • Endothelin-1
  • Oligopeptides
  • Receptor, Endothelin A
  • Receptor, Endothelin B
  • BQ 610
  • Collagen
  • Elastin
  • Oxygen