MAPK在肺移植缺血再灌注模型大鼠肺微血管内皮细胞中介导炎症反应和细胞死亡

Department of Anesthesiology (Hei Long Jiang Province Key Lab of Research on Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine), and the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hypoxia-reoxygenation of cultured macrovascular endothelial cells is used to study ischemia-reperfusion (IR)-related cellular and molecular changes; however, these models do not accurately depict events in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) during conventional lung retrieval and transplantation. We used rat PMVECs in a new non-hypoxic cell-based lung transplantation model to assess these events.

METHODS:

To simulate cold storage, rat PMVECs were preserved in 95% O2-5% CO2 at 4°C for 6 hours in low-potassium dextran solution. Dishes were warmed for 1 hour to room temperature for simulating implantation. Medium was added at 37°C in 50% O2-5% CO2-45% N2 to simulate reperfusion. Additional PMVECs were transfected with siRNA targeting mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and then subjected to simulated IR.

RESULTS:

MAPKs and NF-κB were activated during simulated reperfusion, and AP-1 was activated during ischemia and reperfusion. Increased malondialdehyde levels were found during cold ischemia, and apoptosis and production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were observed during reperfusion. Silencing of MAPKs attenuated oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. Silencing of JNK and p38 decreased NF-κB phosphorylation and increased inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB)α levels. Knockdown of ERK1/2 increased NF-κB phosphorylation but had no effect on IκBα expression. Silencing of JNK and ERK1/2, but not p38, decreased AP-1 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Exposing rat PMVECs to simulated non-hypoxic IR caused lipid peroxidation, inflammation and apoptosis, which required MAPK-mediated NF-κB and AP-1 activation and distinct regulation of MAPKs by these 2 transcription factors. This model could be used to uncouple mechanisms of IR and evaluate potential therapeutics in alleviating IR injury.