ucn-1028-c and Hyperoxia

Peroxiredoxin (Prx) is an important antioxidant defense enzyme that reduces hydrogen peroxide to molecular oxygen by using reducing equivalents from thioredoxin. We report that lung Prx I messenger RNA (mRNA) is specifically upregulated by oxygen. Throughout the third trimester, mRNA for Prx I was expressed constitutively at low levels in fetal baboon lung. However, after premature birth (125 or 140 d gestation), lung Prx I mRNA increased rapidly with the onset of oxygen exposure. Premature animals (140 d) breathing 100% O(2) developed chronic lung disease within 7 to 14 d. These animals had greater lung Prx I mRNA after 1, 6, or 10 d of life than did fetal controls. In 140-d animals given lesser O(2) concentrations (as needed) that did not develop chronic lung disease, lung Prx I mRNA also was increased on Days 1 and 6, but not Day 10. In fetal distal lung explant culture, Prx I mRNA was elevated in 95% O(2), relative to 1% oxygen, and remained elevated at 24 h. Prx protein activity increased in 140-d premature baboons exposed to as-needed oxygen. By contrast, there was a decrease in Prx activity in 140-d premature baboons exposed to 100% oxygen. In the lung explants from prematures (140 d), there was no significant increase in Prx activity in response to 24 h exposure to hyperoxia, whereas exposure of explants to 48 h hyperoxia caused a nonsignificant decrease in Prx activity. Treatment of lung explants with actinomycin D inhibited Prx mRNA increases in 95% oxygen, indicating transcriptional regulation. In cellular signaling studies we demonstrated that protein kinase (PK) C activity increased when A549 cells were exposed to 95% oxygen, compared with 21% oxygen exposure. In lung explant cultures, specific PKC inhibitors calphostin C or GF109203X inhibited the increase in Prx I mRNA with 95% oxygen exposure, indicating PKC-mediated signaling. The acute increase in gene expression of Prx I in response to oxygen suggests an important role for this protein during the transition from relatively anaerobic fetal life to oxygen-breathing at birth.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cell Line; Culture Techniques; Cycloheximide; Dactinomycin; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Fetus; Gestational Age; Humans; Hyperoxia; Indoles; Lung; Maleimides; Naphthalenes; Oxygen; Papio; Peroxidases; Peroxiredoxins; Pregnancy; Protein Kinase C; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Transcription, Genetic; Up-Regulation