Evidence for a role of protein kinase C in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) matches lung perfusion to ventilation, thus optimizing gas exchange. NADPH oxidase-related superoxide anion generation has been suggested as part of the signaling response to hypoxia. Because protein kinase (PK) C activation can occur during hypoxia and PKC activation is known to be critical for NADPH oxidase stimulation in different cell types, we probed the role of PKC in hypoxic vasoconstriction in intact rabbit lungs. Control vasoconstrictor responses were elicited by angiotensin II (ANG II) and the stable thromboxane analog U-46619. Portions of the experiments were performed while NO synthesis and prostanoid generation were blocked with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and acetylsalicylic acid to avoid confounding effects due to interference with these vasoactive mediators. The PKC inhibitor H-7 (10-50 microM) caused dose-dependent inhibition of HPV, but this agent lacked specificity because ANG II- and U-46619-induced vasoconstrictions were correspondingly suppressed. In contrast, low concentrations of the specific PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I (BIM; 1-15 microM) strongly inhibited the hypoxic vasoconstriction without any interference with the responses to the pharmacological agents. Superimposable dose-inhibition curves were also obtained for BIM when lung NO synthesis and prostanoid generation were blocked throughout the experiments. Under either condition, BIM did not affect normoxic vascular tone. The PKC activator farnesylthiotriazole (FTT), ascertained to stimulate rabbit NADPH oxidase by provocation of alveolar macrophage superoxide anion generation in vitro, caused rapid-onset, transient pressor responses in normoxic lungs. After FTT, the hypoxic vasoconstrictor response was totally suppressed, in contrast to the largely maintained pressor responses to ANG II and U-46619. The lungs became refractory even to delayed hypoxic challenges after FTT application. In conclusion, these data support the concept that activation of PKC is involved in the transduction pathway forwarding pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to alveolar hypoxia.