epidermal-growth-factor and Hyperoxia

The carotid body may undergo plasticity changes during development/ageing and in response to environmental (hypoxia and hyperoxia), metabolic, and inflammatory stimuli. The different cell types of the carotid body express a wide series of growth factors and corresponding receptors, which play a role in the modulation of carotid body function and plasticity. In particular, type I cells express nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin 3, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor, insulin-like-growth factor-I and -II, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-α and -β, interleukin-1β and -6, tumor necrosis factor-α, vascular endothelial growth factor, and endothelin-1. Many specific growth factor receptors have been identified in type I cells, indicating autocrine/paracrine effects. Type II cells may also produce growth factors and express corresponding receptors. Future research will have to consider growth factors in further experimental models of cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases and in human (normal and pathologic) samples. From a methodological point of view, microarray and/or proteomic approaches would permit contemporary analyses of large groups of growth factors. The eventual identification of physical interactions between receptors of different growth factors and/or neuromodulators could also add insights regarding functional interactions between different trophic mechanisms.

Topics: Animals; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Carotid Body; Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; Epidermal Growth Factor; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; Gene Expression Regulation; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Humans; Hyperoxia; Hypoxia; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Nerve Growth Factor; Neurotrophin 3; Receptors, Growth Factor; Transforming Growth Factor alpha; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BackgroundDeficiency of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with hypoplastic lung diseases, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Provision of VEGF has been demonstrated to be beneficial in hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and hence could induce lung growth and improve the outcome in hypoplastic lung diseases. We aimed to determine the effects of exogenous VEGF in a rodent model of compensatory lung growth after left pneumonectomy.MethodsEight-to-ten-week-old C57Bl6 male mice underwent left pneumonectomy, followed by daily intra-peritoneal injections of saline or VEGF (0.5 mg/kg). Lung volume measurement, pulmonary function tests, and morphometric analyses were performed on post-operative day (POD) 4 and 10. The pulmonary expression of angiogenic factors was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot.ResultsLung volume on POD 4 was higher in the VEGF-treated mice (P=0.03). On morphometric analyses, VEGF increased the parenchymal volume (P=0.001), alveolar volume (P=0.0003), and alveolar number (P<0.0001) on POD 4. The VEGF group displayed higher levels of phosphorylated-VEGFR2/VEGFR2 (P=0.03) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) messenger RNA (P=0.01).ConclusionVEGF accelerated the compensatory lung growth in mice, by increasing the alveolar units. These changes may be mediated by VEGFR2 and EGF-dependent mechanisms.

Topics: Animals; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Epidermal Growth Factor; Hyperoxia; Lung; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Organ Size; Organogenesis; Pneumonectomy; Pulmonary Alveoli; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2

Annexins are calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins that are implicated in the regulation of both intracellular and extracellular thrombostatic mechanisms in the vascular endothelium. Tight control of annexin gene expression and targeting of annexin proteins is therefore of importance in maintaining the health of the endothelium. Because annexins are abundant in vascular endothelial cells and could be either dysregulated by or contribute to anomalies in Ca2+ signaling, we investigated annexin gene expression and subcellular localization in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a model of chronic oxidative stress. HUVEC were cultured under mild hyperoxic conditions in a custom-built chamber to induce oxidative stress over a period of 12 days. Although annexin expression levels did not change significantly in response to hyperoxic stress, immunofluorescence analysis revealed striking effects on the subcellular localization of certain annexins, including the redistribution of annexins 5 and 6 from the cytosol to the nucleus. In addition, oxidative stress modulated the responses of certain annexins to stimulation with a range of pharmacological and physiological Ca2+-mobilizing agonists, in a manner that suggested that annexin localization is regulated via the complex integration of both Ca2+ and intracellular signaling pathways. These results show that differential regulation of annexin localization by oxidative stress may have a causative role in the cellular pathophysiology of vascular endothelial cell disease.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Annexins; Calcium Signaling; Cell Compartmentation; Cell Nucleus; Cells, Cultured; Cytosol; Endothelium; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epidermal Growth Factor; Humans; Hyperoxia; Infant, Newborn; Ionomycin; Ionophores; Oxidative Stress; Thapsigargin

Hyperoxia is a well-characterized model of injury and repair of the lung. Type 1 cell damage is followed by type 2 cell proliferation and differentiation which restore normal structure and function. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) network is known to be a potent modulator of epithelial cell growth. Here we examine the EGFR network on isolated rat type 2 cells and SV40T-T2, a type 2 cell line, under normoxic conditions, after 24 and 48 h of in vitro hyperoxia, and after 24 h of normoxic recovery. EGF induces tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFRs in type 2 cells and SV40T-T2 cells, which decreases with hyperoxia and increases above normoxic levels in recovering cells, suggesting biphasic changes in receptor number or function with injury. The EGFR appears to be stimulated in an autocrine fashion in these cells. There is decreased DNA synthesis and proliferation in SV40T-T2 and isolated type 2 cells treated with tyrphostin B56, a specific EGFR inhibitor. Pretreatment with suramin, which binds to growth factor, results in increased EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation after stimulation, suggesting disruption of normal autocrine receptor downregulation. We have also identified transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in conditioned media (CM) from normoxic and hyperoxic SV40T-T2 and type 2 cells. Finally, we show increased EGF bioactivity in both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from hyperoxic rats and CM from hyperoxic cells compared with normoxic controls. These findings support an integral role for an autocrine EGFR network in the type 2 cell response to injury.

Topics: Animals; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Catechols; Cell Line; Culture Media; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Hyperoxia; Lung; Nitriles; Phosphorylation; Rats; Reference Values; Suramin; Tyrosine; Tyrphostins