Pulmonary vascular dysfunction resulting from chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) leads to pulmonary hypertension (pHTN) in patients with sleep apnea. Despite the growing recognition, prevalence, and impact of this disorder, the mechanisms involved in this response are poorly understood. The overall objective of the current study is to identify vascular smooth muscle (VSM) signaling mechanisms responsible for PKC?-mediated pulmonary vasoconstriction, and the role of this signaling pathway in CIH-dependent increases in vasoconstrictor reactivity, arterial remodeling and pHTN. Based on preliminary data, our guiding hypothesis is that PKC? mediates pulmonary vasoconstriction through a novel mechanism involving interaction with the scaffolding protein PICK1, activation of mitochondrial KATP (mitoKATP) channels, mitochondrial ROS (mitoROS) generation, and actin polymerization. Furthermore, we hypothesize that this signaling axis mediates enhanced vasoconstrictor reactivity, arterial remodeling and pHTN following CIH. We plan to test these hypotheses by pursuing the following specific aims: 1. Determine the role of PKC??mitoROS signaling in enhanced arterial constrictor reactivity and pulmonary hypertension following CIH. Hypothesis: The PKC?/mitoROS signaling axis contributes to the progression and maintenance of CIH- induced pHTN through contractile and mitogenic actions in VSM. 2. Define the signaling mechanism by which PKC? stimulates mitoROS generation in pulmonary VSM and increased vasoconstrictor sensitivity after CIH. Hypothesis: CIH enhances agonist-dependent pulmonary vasoconstriction via PICK1-dependent activation of mitoKATP channels and subsequent mitoROS production 3. Establish the contribution of actin polymerization to PKC?-induced VSM contraction and the role of this mechanism in augmented pulmonary arterial vasoconstrictor reactivity following CIH. Hypothesis: CIH augments agonist-induced pulmonary VSM Ca2+ sensitization and vasoconstriction through PKC? and mitoROS-dependent actin polymerization. We anticipate that this project will define an innovative paradigm of VSM signaling involving PKC?, mitoROS generation, actin polymerization and Ca2+ sensitization that is unique to the pulmonary circulation, and the role of this pathway in the development of pHTN in a clinically relevant rodent model of sleep apnea. These studies are significant because they are expected to vertically impact our understanding of vasoconstrictor mechanisms that contribute to CIH-induced pHTN, and therefore have potential to yield unique treatment strategies for sleep apnea-associated pHTN and other cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in which PKC? signaling is a central player.

Public Health Relevance

Sleep apnea, a form of sleep-disordered breathing, is an established major cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. population. Sleep apnea increases the incidence of cardiopulmonary disorders, is an independent risk factor for pulmonary hypertension [World Health Organization (WHO), Group 3], and exacerbates pulmonary hypertension in patients with comorbid conditions. Such comorbid conditions include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, restrictive lung disease, diastolic heart failure, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and residence at high altitude. The planned studies are relevant to the mission of the NHLBI and the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research because they will mechanistically examine the contribution of a novel intracellular signaling pathway to pulmonary hypertension in a clinically relevant animal model of sleep apnea, and have potential to reveal new therapeutic targets for treatment of this disorder.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL132883-04
Application #
9724519
Study Section
Respiratory Integrative Biology and Translational Research Study Section (RIBT)
Program Officer
Fessel, Joshua P
Project Start
2016-08-15
Project End
2020-06-30
Budget Start
2019-07-01
Budget End
2020-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
829868723
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
Country
United States
Zip Code
87131
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Zhang, Bojun; Naik, Jay S; Jernigan, Nikki L et al. (2018) Reduced membrane cholesterol after chronic hypoxia limits Orai1-mediated pulmonary endothelial Ca2+ entry. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 314:H359-H369
Sheak, Joshua R; Weise-Cross, Laura; deKay, Ray J et al. (2017) Enhanced NO-dependent pulmonary vasodilation limits increased vasoconstrictor sensitivity in neonatal chronic hypoxia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 313:H828-H838
Maston, Levi D; Jones, David T; Giermakowska, Wieslawa et al. (2017) Central role of T helper 17 cells in chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 312:L609-L624
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Zhang, Bojun; Naik, Jay S; Jernigan, Nikki L et al. (2017) Reduced membrane cholesterol limits pulmonary endothelial Ca2+ entry after chronic hypoxia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 312:H1176-H1184