Intermittent hypoxia regulates RNA polymerase II in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is a major pathological factor in the development of neural deficits associated with sleep-disordered breathing. Here we demonstrate that IH lasting 2 or 30 days, but not sustained hypoxia (SH) of the same duration, was accompanied by several posttranslational modifications of the large subunit of RNA polymerase II, Rpb1, including hydroxylation of proline 1465, phosphorylation of serine 5 residues within the C-terminal domain, and nondegradative ubiquitylation. These modifications were found to occur in two regions of the brain, hippocampal region CA1 and the prefrontal cortex, but not in neocortex, brainstem and CA3 region of hippocampus. We also found that mice exposed to 14 or 30 days of IH, but not SH, demonstrated cognitive deficits in behavioral assays. Furthermore, by using the pheochromocytoma-derived PC12 cell line, we showed that, under in vitro IH conditions, induction of Rpb1 hydroxylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitylation required that the von Hippel-Lindau protein be present. We hypothesize that the observed modifications of Rpb1 participate in regulating the expression of genes involved in mediating cognitive deficits evoked by chronic IH.

Hypoxia induces vascular endothelial growth factor gene transcription in human osteoblast-like cells through the hypoxia-inducible factor-2alpha.

VEGF is produced by osteoblasts and has been postulated to function as an angiogenic stimulus during normal skeletal development and in fracture repair. In this study, we characterized the molecular mechanisms by which experimental hypoxia increases VEGF mRNA in human MG63 osteoblast-like cells. Exposure of MG63 cells to 1% O(2) for 24 h resulted in a four-fold increase in VEGF mRNA. Immunoblotting of nuclear extracts demonstrated a time-dependent increase in the level of the Hif-2alpha protein, which preceded the rise in VEGF mRNA. To determine the effect of hypoxia on VEGF gene transcription, MG63 cells were transiently transfected with a segment of the VEGF promoter construct fused to luciferase and then exposed to 1% O(2). Hypoxia induced VEGF promoter activity five-fold by 24 h. Forced expression of Hif-2alpha, but not Hif-1alpha, increased both basal and hypoxia induced VEGF promoter activity. By contrast, the ability of the VEGF reporter to respond to hypoxia or recombinant Hif-2alpha was abolished in cells transfected with a VEGF promoter construct containing a mutation in the hypoxia response element. In summary, exposure of osteoblast-like cells to hypoxia induces VEGF expression via induction of Hif-2alpha and transcriptional activation of the VEGF promoter.

Regulation of gene expression by hypoxia.

The present study was undertaken to determine if gene expression for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamines, is regulated in the carotid body, sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla by hypoxia. We found that a reduction in oxygen tension from 21% to 10% caused a substantial increase (200% at 1 hour and 500% at 6 hours exposure) in the concentration of TH mRNA in carotid body type I cells but not in either the sympathetic ganglia or adrenal gland. In addition, we found that hypercapnia, another natural stimulus of carotid body activity, failed to enhance TH mRNA in type I cells. Removal of the sensory and sympathetic innervation of the carotid body failed to prevent the induction of TH mRNA by hypoxia in type I cells. Our results show that TH gene expression is regulated by hypoxia in the carotid body but not in other peripheral catecholamine synthesizing tissue and that the regulatory mechanism is intrinsic to type I cells.

Respiratory neuronal activity during apnea and other breathing patterns induced by laryngeal stimulation.

Respiration cycles through three distinct phases (inspiration, postinspiration, and expiration) each having corresponding medullary cells that are excited during one phase and inhibited during the other two. Laryngeal stimulation is known to induce apnea in newborn animals, but the cellular mechanisms underlying this effect are not known. Intracellular recording of ventral respiratory group neurons was accomplished in intact anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated piglets. Apnea was induced by insufflation of the larynx with ammonia-saturated air, smoke, or water. Laryngeal insufflation induced phrenic nerve apnea, stimulation of postinspiratory neurons, and stable membrane potentials in inspiratory and expiratory cells consistent with postinspiratory inhibition. Usually the membrane potential of each neuronal type cycled through an expiratory level before onset of the first recovery breath. Variants of the apnea response, probably reflecting the aspiration reflex or sniffing, sneezing, coughing, and swallowing, were also observed. These latter patterns showed oscillation between inspiration and postinspiration without an apparent intervening stage II expiratory phase. However, stage II expiratory activity always preceded onset of the first ramp inspiration after such a pattern. These findings suggest that activation of postinspiratory mechanisms causes profound alterations in the respiratory pattern and that stage II expiration importantly modulates recovery of ramp inspiratory activity. The mechanism of this latter effect may be inhibition of early inspiratory neurons with consequent postinhibitory rebound.

Experimentally induced postinhibitory rebound in rat nucleus ambiguus is dependent on hyperpolarization parameters and membrane potential.

Postinhibitory rebound (PIR), a transient depolarization subsequent to release from experimental hyperpolarization, was identified and characterized in 81% of the cells studied in the nucleus ambiguus in slices from medulla of rat. Hyperpolarizing current pulses were administered via the recording microelectrode in the bridge-balanced mode to test for PIR. The voltage trajectory was characterized by a depolarizing sag during the pulse, rebound depolarization (PIR) after the pulse and increased input resistance during rebound. The amplitude and time course of PIR were dependent on prepulse membrane potential, pulse amplitude and pulse duration. These results suggest a potential role of PIR in respiratory rhythmogenesis.

Centrally administered glucagon stimulates sympathetic nerve activity in rat.

The effect of pancreatic glucagon given intravenously, intracerebroventricularly and microinjected into the nucleus of the solitary tract on sympathetic activity in the cervical trunk and adrenal nerve was examined in rat. In each case glucagon caused a relatively long-lasting substantial increase in discharge of both nerves. This finding shows that glucagon can act centrally to stimulate sympathetic activity. The most probable site for the sympathoexcitatory effect of glucagon is the nucleus of the solitary tract.

Expression of messenger RNAs for peptides and tyrosine hydroxylase in primary sensory neurons that innervate arterial baroreceptors and chemoreceptors.

Retrograde fiber tracing and in situ hybridization were used to determine expression of mRNAs for preprotachykinin A (ppTA), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), preproenkephalin A (ENK), neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) and somatostatin (SOM) as well as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the petrosal ganglia primary sensory neurons which innervate carotid sinus baroreceptors and carotid body chemoreceptors. Perfusion of the carotid sinus with the retrogradely transported dye (Fluoro-Gold) labeled primary sensory neurons in petrosal ganglion. Numerous somata in the petrosal ganglion labeled with dye contained mRNAs for all the above peptides, except SOM. Moreover, TH mRNA was found in a substantial number of retrogradely labeled cells in the petrosal ganglion. This study provides information concerning which of the numerous peptides identified in sensory neurons of petrosal ganglion may be involved in modulation of the arterial baroreceptor and chemoreceptor reflexes.

Hypoxia-induced regulation of mRNA stability.

Because molecular oxygen is essential for generating cellular energy in aerobic organisms, and because survival depends on this fundamental requirement for oxygen, all higher organisms have evolved numerous diversely regulated mechanisms to detect and respond to potentially life-threatening occurrences of decreased oxygen availability (hypoxia). While the oxygen-dependent regulation of gene expression involves both transcriptional- and post-transcriptional mechanisms, investigations have focused mainly on mechanisms working at the transcriptional level. In this review, the focus is on a growing body of work that looks at post-transcriptional mechanisms acting at a level of mRNA stability.

Respiratory modulation of the cutaneous somatosympathetic reflex in normotensive (WKY) and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR): species and strain-dependent patterns.

In 6 normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and 6 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) anesthetized with urethane and chloralose, paralyzed, artificially ventilated, vagotomized with carotid sinus nerves bilaterally cut, somatosympathetic reflex discharges were recorded in cervical and renal nerves by stimulating group II and III cutaneous afferents in the sural nerve. Only a long-circuited, late supraspinal component reflex discharge could be elicited. After averaging the responses evoked by random stimulation, the latency of the reflex discharge was significantly longer in the renal than in the cervical sympathetic nerve, equally in the WKY rat and in SHR. In WKY rats the peak of sympathetic discharge corresponded to early expiration, whereas in SHRs--to late inspiratory phase. The duration of the reflex discharge elicited in inspiration was greater in SHR than in WKY rats. In WKY rats stimuli applied during phrenic discharge produced a reflex response of longer latency and of reduced amplitude than those applied in expiration. In SHRs the latency of the reflex response in the sympathetic cervical nerve was shorter during inspiration than in expiratory phase. The timing of the sympathetic reflex responsiveness within respiratory cycle in SHR and in WKY rats corresponded to strain-dependent opposite respiratory synchronization pattern of the spontaneous sympathetic activity characterizing each strain. No respiratory modulation of the somatosympathetic reflex was observed in the renal nerve of SHR. It is concluded that both spontaneous and evoked sympathetic activity is synchronized differently in SHR and in WKY rats and this difference is both species- and strain-dependent.

MiR-155 at the heart of oncogenic pathways.

MicroRNAs are increasingly being recognized as oncogenes and tumor suppressors in cancer. MicroRNA-155 (miR-155) is an established oncomiR in breast cancer and regulates several pro-oncogenic pathways. In light of this, Chiang's group has discovered a novel pathway regulated by miR-155. MiR-155 directly targets the VHL tumor suppressor and, by doing so, promotes the activity of HIF transcription factors and angiogenesis. This pathway appears to be particularly relevant in triple-negative breast cancer.

Molecular aspects of oxygen sensing in physiological adaptation to hypoxia.

Oxygen is an essential substrate in aerobic metabolism for most eukaryotic organisms. Thus organisms and cells have developed numerous immediate and long-term compensatory mechanisms for dealing with oxygen deprivation. Adaptation to hypoxia at the organismal level includes reflex hyperventilation, polycythemia and angiogenesis, which lead to increased O2 delivery to the tissues. Adaptation at the cellular level involves a shift from oxidative phosphorylation to anaerobic glycolysis, increased glucose metabolism, and expression of hypoxic stress-related proteins. Regulation of many proteins participating in adaptation to hypoxia occurs at the level of gene expression. The most widespread molecular mechanism of hypoxia-dependent regulation is transcriptional induction via the binding of a transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (Hif-1), to the specific sequences on the regulated genes. Long-term induction of many proteins also requires an increase in mRNA stability, which is mediated by the binding of regulatory proteins to specific sequences within the mRNAs. The current theories of coupling between the O2 sensor and mechanisms controlling gene expression are discussed.

Respiratory-related discharge pattern of sympathetic nerve activity in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

1. Synchronization of spontaneous sympathetic discharge during the respiratory cycle was studied in the cervical and renal nerves of vagotomized, normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) and age-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Phrenic nerve discharge was used as an index of central inspiratory activity. 2. In normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats depression of sympathetic activity appeared at the onset of inspiration reaching a minimum at mid-inspiration. Peak maximal sympathetic discharge corresponded to postinspiratory phase; a second increase sometimes appeared in late expiration. Variations of respiratory frequency over wide range of experimental conditions by hypoxia, hyperoxia, hyper- or hypocapnia and transection of carotid sinus nerves did not affect this pattern. 3. In SHRs the respiratory-phase-related timing of sympathetic discharge was variable. In normoxia, the maximal sympathetic activity occurred in late inspiration, preceded by short depression at early inspiration and followed by postinspiratory depression. A second increase in sympathetic activity was observed in mid-expiration. 4. The pattern of respiratory phase modulated sympathetic activity in SHRs was altered by hypoxic stimulation of the peripheral chemoreceptors. The early inspiratory depression of sympathetic activity was substantially prolonged and the maximal sympathetic discharge was shifted from inspiration to early expiration. This effect was abolished after carotid sinus nerves had been cut. 5. Hypercapnic stimulation of central chemoreceptors in SHRs with carotid sinus nerves cut did not influence the timing of the sympathetic activity in relation to the respiratory phase, though the magnitude of rhythmical sympathetic discharges was increased. 6. We discuss the possibility that altered synchronization between central respiratory drive and sympathetic neuronal system may contribute to the neurogenic mechanisms of arterial hypertension in SHRs.

Characterization of the hypoxia-inducible protein binding site within the pyrimidine-rich tract in the 3'-untranslated region of the tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA.

Reduced tension of O2 slows the degradation rate of mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, in the pheochromocytoma (PC12) clonal cell line. The observed increase in half-life (30 h versus 10 h) correlates with enhanced binding of a 66-kDa protein (hypoxia inducible protein) to the pyrimidine-rich tract located between bases 1552 1578 in the 3 -untranslated region of TH mRNA (hypoxia-inducible protein binding site (HIPBS)). The present study investigates the protein binding site within the 27-base HIPBS, first by using specific cleavages of HIPBS and its flanking sequences with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and RNase H and then by using mutational analysis of the binding properties. We found that the 27-base HIPBS oligoribonucleotide was sufficient to bind the protein in vitro in a hypoxia-stimulated manner. We further identified the optimal hypoxia-inducible protein binding site that is represented by the motif (U/C)(C/U)CCCU, where the core binding site is indicated by the underlined cytidines. Substitutions of either one of the cytidines with purine or uridine abolished the protein binding. The mutations within HIPBS, which partially reduced binding, did not prevent stimulation of protein binding for extracts from hypoxic cells. The hypoxia-induced increase in complex formation was proportional to the strength of binding using proteins from normoxic cells. The HIPBS element is conserved in TH mRNAs derived from different species.

Synaptic events in ventral respiratory neurones during apnoea induced by laryngeal nerve stimulation in neonatal pig.

1. Postsynaptic potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) were recorded during SLN-induced apnoea from the respiratory neurones of the ventral respiratory group (VRG) in pentobarbitone-anaesthetized, vagotomized and artificially ventilated newborn piglets (n = 14, 4-7 days old). All recorded inspiratory (n = 10), post-inspiratory (n = 10) and expiratory (n = 20) neurones had a triphasic pattern of membrane potential and were identified for their projections to the spinal cord or cervical vagus nerve. 2. During long-lasting apnoea, induced by SLN stimulation, the membrane potential trajectory of each type of recorded neurone was held at the level corresponding approximately to the membrane potential reached during stage I of expiration. Compound postsynaptic potentials evoked in most respiratory-related neurones had an early short-lasting and a late long-lasting component. 3. Postsynaptic potentials in four out of seven inspiratory neurones, in which postsynaptic potentials were well demonstrated, were characterized by an early depolarization followed by long-lasting hyperpolarization. In three other inspiratory neurones only late hyperpolarization was present. The reversal of the late hyperpolarization by intracellular chloride injection was achieved to a different degree in the early and late portions of late hyperpolarization. 4. Postsynaptic potentials evoked in expiratory neurones were studied in sixteen neurones and displayed two patterns: early hyperpolarization followed by long-lasting hyperpolarization (n = 7, six were not antidromically activated after spinal cord stimulation) or early hyperpolarization followed by late depolarization (n = 9, eight projected to the spinal cord). The early hyperpolarization was readily reversed by chloride injection. The late hyperpolarization was more difficult to reverse and usually the reversal was not completed. 5. Postsynaptic potentials evoked in post-inspiratory neurones showed a pattern of two consecutive phases of depolarization. 6. The present study revealed that during long-lasting apnoea evoked by SLN stimulation each category of VRG respiratory neurones received a temporally synchronized combination of an initial fast input derived reflexly from laryngeal afferents, and of late inputs representing involvement of the whole respiratory network in the response.

Role of H2O2 and heme-containing O2 sensors in hypoxic regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression.

In the current study, we investigated links between O2-regulated H2O2 formation and the hypoxic induction of mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, in O2-sensitive PC-12 cells. During exposure of PC-12 cells to 5% O2, H2O2 concentration decreased by 40% as measured with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF). Treatment with H2O2 reduced TH mRNA during normoxia and prevented the induction of TH mRNA during hypoxia. Treatment with catalase or N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine, a reducing antioxidant agent that decreases H2O2 concentration, also induced TH mRNA. Deferoxamine (DF), an iron chelator, failed to affect H2O2 formation but induced TH mRNA in normoxia and hypoxia. CoCl2 led to a decrease in H2O2 at 20 h of treatment but induced TH mRNA during normoxia and hypoxia before it affected H2O2. In conclusion, TH gene expression correlates inversely with H2O2 formation. DF and CO2+ seem to affect TH gene expression in the mechanism downstream from the H2O2 formation rather than by interfering with the H2O2-generating activity of the O2 sensor.

Regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA stability by protein-binding, pyrimidine-rich sequence in the 3'-untranslated region.

The stability of mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine synthesis, is regulated by oxygen tension in the pheochromocytoma-derived PC12 cell line. We previously identified a pyrimidine-rich 27-base-long protein-binding sequence in the 3'-untranslated region of TH mRNA that is associated with hypoxia-inducible formation of a ribonucleoprotein complex (hypoxia-inducible protein-binding site (HIPBS)). In this study, we show that HIPBS is an mRNA stabilizing element necessary for both constitutive and hypoxia-regulated stability of TH mRNA. The mutations within this sequence that abolish protein binding markedly decrease constitutive TH mRNA stability and ablate its hypoxic regulation. A short fragment of TH mRNA that contains the wild-type HIPBS confers the increased mRNA stability to the reporter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase mRNA. However, it is not sufficient to confer hypoxic regulation. The HIPBS element binds two isoforms of a 40-kDa poly(C)-binding protein (PCBP). Hypoxia induces expression of the isoform 1, PCBP1, but not the isoform 2, PCBP2, in PC12 cells.

Identification of the poly(C) binding protein in the complex associated with the 3' untranslated region of erythropoietin messenger RNA.

Hypoxia regulates expression of erythropoietin (EPO), a glycoprotein that stimulates erythrocytosis, at the level of transcription and also possibly at the level of messenger RNA (mRNA) stability. A pyrimidine-rich region within the EPO mRNA 3' untranslated region was implicated in regulation of EPO mRNA stability element and shown to bind protein factors. In the present study we wished to identify the protein factor binding to the pyrimidine-rich sequence in the EPO mRNA stability element. Using mobility shift assays, ultraviolet light cross-linking, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and electroelution of protein factors from the gel slices corresponding to the ribonucleoprotein complexes, we found that two isoforms of a 40 kD poly(C) binding protein (PCBP, also known as alphaCP or hnRNPE), PCBP1, and PCBP2 are present in that complex. In Hep3B or HepG2 cells hypoxia induces neither expression of PCBP nor formation of the ribonucleoprotein complex associated with EPO mRNA that involves PCBP.

Opposite excitatory and inhibitory effects of central administration of glucagon and of insulin upon the sympathetic cervical and adrenal nerve activities in the rat.

The central effects of pancreatic glucagon and insulin given intracerebroventriculary (i.c.v.) upon sympathetic activity in the cervical trunk and adrenal nerve were examined in Wistar Kyoto rats. Glucagon i.c.v. administration led to an increase in sympathetic nerve activity in both nerves. Insulin injected into lateral ventricle caused opposite to glucagon inhibitory influence on sympathetic discharge in the cervical trunk and adrenal nerve. This two different central effects of glucagon and insulin on sympatho-adrenal system may contribute to glycemia homesthasis.

Expression of D2 dopamine receptor mRNA in the arterial chemoreceptor afferent pathway.

Dopamine is a major neurotransmitter in the arterial chemoreceptor pathway. In the present study we wished to determine if messenger RNAs for dopamine D1 and D2 receptor are expressed in carotid body (type I cells), in sensory neurons of the petrosal ganglion which innervate the carotid body and in sympathetic neurons of the superior cervical ganglion. We failed to detect D1 receptor mRNA in any of these tissues. However, we found that D2 receptor mRNA was expressed by dopaminergic carotid body type I cells. D2 receptor mRNA was also found in petrosal ganglion neurons that innervated the carotid sinus and carotid body. In addition, a large number of sympathetic postganglionic neurons in the superior cervical ganglion expressed D2 receptor mRNA.