scholarly journals Arginine:Glycine Amidinotransferase Is Essential for Creatine Supply in Mice During Chronic Hypoxia

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Hannemann ◽  
Kathrin Cordts ◽  
Anika Seniuk ◽  
Chi-un Choe ◽  
Lena Schmidt-Hutten ◽  
...  

Objective: Chronic hypoxia induces pulmonary and cardiovascular pathologies, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) is essential for homoarginine (hArg) and guanidinoacetate synthesis, the latter being converted to creatine by guanidinoacetate methyltransferase. Low hArg concentrations are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and predict mortality in patients with PH. We therefore aimed to investigate the survival and cardiac outcome of AGAT knockout (Agat−/−) mice under hypoxia and a possible rescue of the phenotype.Methods:Agat−/− mice and wild-type (WT) littermates were subjected to normoxia or normobaric hypoxia (10% oxygen) for 4 weeks. A subgroup of Agat−/− mice was supplemented with 1% creatine from weaning. Survival, hematocrit, blood lactate and glucose, heart weight-to-tibia length (HW/TL) ratio, hArg plasma concentration, and Agat and Gamt expression in lung, liver, and kidneys were evaluated.Results: After 6 h of hypoxia, blood lactate was lower in Agat−/−-mice as compared to normoxia (p < 0.001). Agat−/− mice died within 2 days of hypoxia, whereas Agat−/− mice supplemented with creatine and WT mice survived until the end of the study. In WT mice, hematocrit (74 ± 4 vs. 55 ± 2%, mean ± SD, p < 0.001) and HW/TL (9.9 ± 1.3 vs. 7.3 ± 0.7 mg/mm, p < 0.01) were higher in hypoxia, while hArg plasma concentration (0.25 ± 0.06 vs. 0.38 ± 0.12 μmol/L, p < 0.01) was lower. Agat and Gamt expressions were differentially downregulated by hypoxia in lung, liver, and kidneys.Conclusion:Agat and Gamt are downregulated in hypoxia. Agat−/− mice are nonviable in hypoxia. Creatine rescues the lethal phenotype, but it does not reduce right ventricular hypertrophy of Agat−/− mice in hypoxia.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliane Hannemann ◽  
Antonia Glatzel ◽  
Jonas Hillig ◽  
Julia Zummack ◽  
Rainer H Boeger

Introduction: Chronic hypoxia causes persistent pulmonary vasoconstriction and leads to pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthesis; its level increases in hypoxia concomitantly with reduced activity of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH-1 and DDAH-2), the enzymes metabolizing ADMA. DDAH knockout models may therefore help to understand the pathophysiological roles of this enzyme and its substrate, ADMA, in the development of hypoxia-associated pulmonary hypertension. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that DDAH1 knock-out mice have an attenuated hypoxia-induced elevation of ADMA and reduced right ventricular hypertrophy. Methods: DDAH1 knock-out mice (KO) and their wild-type littermates (WT) were subjected to normoxia (NX) or hypoxia (HX) during 21 days. We measured ADMA concentration in plasma, DDAH1 and DDAH2 expression in the lung, right ventricular hypertrophy by the Fulton index, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by dystrophin staining of heart tissues, and muscularization of pulmonary arterioles by CD31 and α-actin staining of lung sections. Results: DDAH1 KO mice had higher ADMA concentration than WT under NX (2.31±0.33 μmol/l vs. 1.20±0.17 μmol/l; p < 0.05). ADMA significantly increased in WT-HX (to 1.74±0.86 μmol/l; p < 0.05 vs. normoxia), whilst it did not further increase in KO-HX (2.58±0.58 μmol/l; p = n.s.). This was paralleled by a 38±13% reduction in DDAH1 mRNA but not DDAH2 mRNA expression, and reduced DDAH protein expression. We observed right ventricular hypertrophy under hypoxia in both, WT and KO mice, with no significant differences between both genotypes. Further, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and pulmonary arteriolar muscularization were significantly increased by hypoxia, but not significantly different between WT and KO mice. Conclusions: We conclude that chronic hypoxia causes an elevation of ADMA, which impairs NO production and leads to endothelial dysfunction and vasoconstriction. Downregulation of DDAH expression and activity may be involved in this; however, knockout of DDAH1 does not modify the pathophysiological changes in remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and the right ventricle.


Endocrinology ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl O. Schwenke ◽  
Takeshi Tokudome ◽  
Mikiyasu Shirai ◽  
Hiroshi Hosoda ◽  
Takeshi Horio ◽  
...  

Chronic exposure to hypoxia, a common adverse consequence of most pulmonary disorders, can lead to a sustained increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), right ventricular hypertrophy, and is, therefore, closely associated with heart failure and increased mortality. Ghrelin, originally identified as an endogenous GH secretagogue, has recently been shown to possess potent vasodilator properties, likely involving modulation of the vascular endothelium and its associated vasoactive peptides. In this study we hypothesized that ghrelin would impede the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension during chronic hypoxia (CH). PAP was continuously measured using radiotelemetry, in conscious male Sprague Dawley rats, in normoxia and during 2-wk CH (10% O2). During this hypoxic period, rats received a daily sc injection of either saline or ghrelin (150 μg/kg). Subsequently, heart and lung samples were collected for morphological, histological, and molecular analyses. CH significantly elevated PAP in saline-treated rats, increased wall thickness of peripheral pulmonary arteries, and, consequently, induced right ventricular hypertrophy. In these rats, CH also led to the overexpression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein, as well as endothelin-1 mRNA within the lung. Exogenous ghrelin administration attenuated the CH-induced overexpression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase mRNA and protein, as well as endothelin-1 mRNA. Consequently, ghrelin significantly attenuated the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and right ventricular hypertrophy. These results demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of ghrelin for impeding the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy, particularly in subjects prone to CH (e.g. pulmonary disorders).


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bárbara González-Terán ◽  
Juan A López ◽  
Elena Rodríguez ◽  
Luis Leiva ◽  
Sara Martínez-Martínez ◽  
...  

Disrupted organ growth underlies the development of several diseases. Whereas the fetal heart grows mainly through proliferation, the postnatal heart grows through hypertrophy. Hypertrophy is also activated in the adult heart as a compensatory response to stress, but chronic ventricular hypertrophy leads to heart failure. The molecular mechanisms underlying ventricular hypertrophy are unknown. We show that cardiac expression and activation of p38γ and p38δ increases during postnatal development and these kinases are activated by the hypertrophy-inducing stress stimuli angiotensin II and phenylephrine. p38γ and p38δ promote cardiac hypertrophy by phosphorylating the mTORC1 and mTORC2 inhibitor DEPTOR, promoting its degradation and thereby activating mTORC1 and mTORC2. Hearts from mice lacking one or both kinases were below-normal size, had high levels of DEPTOR and consequently low activity of the mTOR pathway, and reduced protein synthesis. The mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin, equalized heart weight in wild-type and p38γ/δ-/- mice. Moreover, p38γ/δ-/- mice were protected against pathological ventricular hypertrophy, establishing p38γ/δ as key regulators of this process.


2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (5) ◽  
pp. L753-L761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiro Mizuno ◽  
Herman J. Bogaard ◽  
Donatas Kraskauskas ◽  
Aysar Alhussaini ◽  
Jose Gomez-Arroyo ◽  
...  

Chronic hypoxia induces pulmonary arterial remodeling, resulting in pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy. Hypoxia has been implicated as a physiological stimulus for p53 induction and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). However, the subcellular interactions between hypoxic exposure and expression of p53 and HIF-1α remain unclear. To examine the role of p53 and HIF-1α expression on hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial remodeling, wild-type (WT) and p53 knockout (p53KO) mice were exposed to either normoxia or hypoxia for 8 wk. Following chronic hypoxia, both genotypes demonstrated elevated right ventricular pressures, right ventricular hypertrophy as measured by the ratio of the right ventricle to the left ventricle plus septum weights, and vascular remodeling. However, the right ventricular systolic pressures, the ratio of the right ventricle to the left ventricle plus septum weights, and the medial wall thickness of small vessels were significantly greater in the p53KO mice than in the WT mice. The p53KO mice had lower levels of p21 and miR34a expression, and higher levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, and PDGF expression than WT mice following chronic hypoxic exposure. This was associated with a higher proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression of pulmonary artery in p53KO mice. We conclude that p53 plays a critical role in the mitigation of hypoxia-induced small pulmonary arterial remodeling. By interacting with p21 and HIF-1α, p53 may suppress hypoxic pulmonary arterial remodeling and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation under hypoxia.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (2) ◽  
pp. L225-L232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norihisa Hanasato ◽  
Masahiko Oka ◽  
Masashi Muramatsu ◽  
Mayu Nishino ◽  
Hideyuki Adachi ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to determine whether E-4010, a newly synthesized potent and selective orally active phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 inhibitor, would prevent the development of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. In conscious, pulmonary hypertensive rats, a single oral administration of E-4010 (1.0 mg/kg) caused an acute, long-lasting reduction in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), with no significant effects on systemic arterial pressure, cardiac output, and heart rate. In rats that received food containing 0.01 or 0.1% E-4010 during the 3-wk exposure to hypoxia, mean PAP was significantly decreased (mean PAP 24.0 ± 0.9, 16.2 ± 0.8, and 12.8 ± 0.5 mmHg in rats treated with 0, 0.01, and 0.1% E-4010-containing food, respectively), whereas mean systemic arterial pressure was unchanged and cardiac output was slightly increased compared with chronically hypoxic control rats. Right ventricular hypertrophy, medial wall thickness in pulmonary arteries corresponding to the respiratory and terminal bronchioles, and the degree of muscularization of more distal arteries were less severe in E-4010-treated rats. Long-term treatment with E-4010 caused an increase in cGMP levels in lung tissue and plasma but not in aortic tissue and no significant change in cAMP levels in either lung, aorta, or plasma. These results suggest that long-term oral treatment with E-4010 reduced the increase in PAP, right ventricular hypertrophy, and pulmonary arterial remodeling induced by exposure to chronic hypoxia, probably through increasing cGMP levels in the pulmonary vascular smooth muscle.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (6) ◽  
pp. L872-L880 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Bierer ◽  
C. H. Nitta ◽  
J. Friedman ◽  
S. Codianni ◽  
S. de Frutos ◽  
...  

Pulmonary hypertension occurs with prolonged exposure to chronic hypoxia in both adults and neonates. The Ca2+-dependent transcription factor, nuclear factor of activated T cells isoform c3 (NFATc3), has been implicated in chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial remodeling in adult mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that NFATc3 is required for chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in adult and neonatal mice. The aim of this study was to determine whether 1) NFATc3 mediates chronic hypoxia-induced increases in right ventricular systolic pressure in adult mice; 2) NFATc3 is activated in neonatal mice exposed to chronic hypoxia; and 3) NFATc3 is involved in chronic hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary vascular remodeling in neonatal mice. Adult mice were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 2, 7, and 21 days. Neonatal mouse pups were exposed for 7 days to hypobaric chronic hypoxia within 2 days after delivery. Hypoxia-induced increases in right ventricular systolic pressure were absent in NFATc3 knockout adult mice. In neonatal mice, chronic hypoxia caused NFAT activation in whole lung and nuclear accumulation of NFATc3 in both pulmonary vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. In addition, heterozygous NFATc3 neonates showed less right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary artery wall thickness in response to chronic hypoxia than did wild-type neonates. Our results suggest that NFATc3 mediates pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling in both adult and neonatal mice.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (2) ◽  
pp. R421-R427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Lumbroso ◽  
Vincent Joseph

We tested the hypothesis that neonatal exposure to hypoxia alters acclimatization to chronic hypoxia later in life. Rat pups were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (12% O2; nHx group) in a sealed chamber, or to normoxia (21% O2; nNx group) from the day before birth to postnatal day 10. The animals were then raised in normal conditions until reaching 12 wk of age. At this age, we assessed ventilatory and hematological acclimatization to chronic hypoxia by exposing male and female nHx and nNx rats for 2 wk to 10% O2. Minute ventilation, metabolic rate, hypoxic ventilatory response, hematocrit, and hemoglobin levels were measured both before and after acclimatization. We also quantified right ventricular hypertrophy as an index of pulmonary hypertension both before and after acclimatization. There was a significant effect of neonatal hypoxia that decreases ventilatory response (relative to metabolic rate, V̇e/V̇co2) to acute hypoxia before acclimatization in males but not in females. nHx rats had an impaired acclimatization to chronic hypoxia characterized by altered respiratory pattern and elevated hematocrit and hemoglobin levels after acclimatization, in both males and females. Right ventricular hypertrophy was present before and after acclimatization in nHx rats, indicating that neonatal hypoxia results in pulmonary hypertension in adults. We conclude that neonatal hypoxia impairs acclimatization to chronic hypoxia in adults and may be a factor contributing to the establishment of chronic mountain sickness in humans living at high altitude.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. L154-L164 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Case ◽  
D. Irwin ◽  
C. Ivester ◽  
J. Harral ◽  
K. Morris ◽  
...  

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by sustained vasoconstriction, with subsequent extracellular matrix (ECM) production and smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. Changes in the ECM can modulate vasoreactivity and SMC contraction. Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is a hypoxia-inducible β-galactoside-binding lectin produced by vascular, interstitial, epithelial, and immune cells. Gal-1 regulates SMC differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis via interactions with the ECM, as well as immune system function, and, therefore, likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of PH. We investigated the effects of Gal-1 during hypoxic PH by quantifying 1) Gal-1 expression in response to hypoxia in vitro and in vivo and 2) the effect of Gal-1 gene deletion on the magnitude of the PH response to chronic hypoxia in vivo. By constructing and screening a subtractive library, we found that acute hypoxia increases expression of Gal-1 mRNA in isolated pulmonary mesenchymal cells. In wild-type (WT) mice, Gal-1 immunoreactivity increased after 6 wk of hypoxia. Increased expression of Gal-1 protein was confirmed by quantitative Western analysis. Gal-1 knockout (Gal-1−/−) mice showed a decreased PH response, as measured by right ventricular pressure and the ratio of right ventricular to left ventricular + septum wet weight compared with their WT counterparts. However, the number and degree of muscularized vessels increased similarly in WT and Gal-1−/− mice. In response to chronic hypoxia, the decrease in factor 8-positive microvessel density was similar in both groups. Vasoreactivity of WT and Gal-1−/− mice was tested in vivo and with use of isolated perfused lungs exposed to acute hypoxia. Acute hypoxia caused a significant increase in RV pressure in wild-type and Gal-1−/− mice; however, the response of the Gal-1−/− mice was greater. These results suggest that Gal-1 influences the contractile response to hypoxia and subsequent remodeling during hypoxia-induced PH, which influences disease progression.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document