Tuberc Respir Dis.  2004 Jul;57(1):37-46.

Inhibition of Viability and Genetic Change in Hypoxia-treated Lung Pericytes

• Shin JW
• Kim KY
• Lee YW
• Jung JW
• Lee BJ
• Kim JY
• Jo IH
• Park IW
• Choi BW

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lung pericytes are important constituent cells of blood-air barrier in pulmonary microvasculature. These cells take part in the control of vascular contractility and permeability. In this study, it was hypothesized that change of lung pericytes might be attributable to pathologic change in microvasculature in acute lung injury. The purpose of this study was how hypoxia change proliferation and genetic expression in lung pericytes.
METHODS
From the lungs of several Sprague-Dawley rats, performed the primary culture of lung pericytes and subculture. Characteristics of lung pericytes were confirmed with stellate shape in light microscopy and immunocytochemistry. 2% concentration of oxygen and 200muM CoCl2 were treated to cells. Tryphan blue method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were done.
RESULTS
1. We established methodology for primary culture of lung pericytes. 2. Hypoxia inhibited cellular proliferation in pericytes. 3. Hypoxia could markedly induce vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and smad-2. 4. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha)was also induced by 2% oxygen.
CONCLUSION
Viability of lung pericytes are inhibited by hypoxia. Hypoxia can stimulate expression of hypoxia-responsive genes. Pericytic change may be contributed to dysfunction of alveolar-capillary barrier in various pulmonary disorders.

Keyword

pericytes; hypoxia; VEGF; Smad-2; HIF-1alpha; blood-air barrier

MeSH Terms

Acute Lung Injury
Anoxia
Blood-Air Barrier
Cell Proliferation
Immunohistochemistry
Lung*
Microscopy
Microvessels
Oxygen
Pericytes*
Permeability
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Oxygen
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A