Autophagic protein LC3B confers resistance against hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease with unclear etiology. The significance of autophagy in PH remains unknown.

Objectives

To determine the mechanisms by which autophagic proteins regulate tissue responses during PH.

Methods

Lungs from patients with PH, lungs from mice exposed to chronic hypoxia, and human pulmonary vascular cells were examined for autophagy using electron microscopy and Western analysis. Mice deficient in microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain-3B (LC3B(-/-)), or early growth response-1 (Egr-1(-/-)), were evaluated for vascular morphology and hemodynamics.

Measurements and main results

Human PH lungs displayed elevated lipid-conjugated LC3B, and autophagosomes relative to normal lungs. These autophagic markers i

SUBMITTER: Lee SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3081281 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature