Target validation in hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling using transcriptome/metabolome analysis

The present study describes combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis for therapeutic target validation in hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling. Exposure to hypoxic conditions resulted in the upregulation of S100C mRNA and increased taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) content in the rat lung, as demonstrated by differential display and amino-acid content analysis. Hypoxia resulted in transcriptional activation of the S100C promoter through hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). Taurine suppressed HIF-1-mediated increases in S100C transcription. Moreover, oral taurine administration attenuated vascular remodeling in hypoxic rat lung, whereas depletion of endogenous taurine by administration of beta-alanine resulted in increased vascular remodeling. Inhibition of HIF transcription by taurine may be of therapeutic benefit in preventing hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling. In conclusion, we used transcriptome and metabolome analysis to identify a therapeutic low-molecular-weight ligand that plays a critical role in hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling. These techniques provided an excellent strategy for screening and validation of targets.