Hypoxia activates 15‐PGDH and its metabolite 15‐KETE to promote pulmonary artery endothelial cells proliferation via ERK1/2 signalling

Abstract

Dysfunction and injury of endothelial cells in the pulmonary artery play critical roles in the hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia. One consequence of hypoxia is increased activity of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH). Here, we have explored, in detail, the effects of hypoxia on the proliferation of pulmonary artery endothelial cells. We used bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, cell-cycle analysis, immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis to study the effects of hypoxia, induced 15-PGDH) activity and its product, 15-keto-6Z, 8Z, 11Z, 13E-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-KETE), on endothelial cell proliferation. Scratch-wound and tube formation assays were also used to study migration of endothelial cells. 15-KETE increased DNA synthesis and enhanced the transition from the G0 /G1 phase to the S phase in hypoxia. Inhibition of 15-PGDH or siRNA for 15-PGDH reversed these effects. 15-KETE also activated the ERK1/2 signalling pathway. 15-KETE-induced cell migration and tube formation were reversed by blocking ERK1/2, but not the p38 MAPK pathway. Hypoxia-induced endothelial proliferation and migration, an important underlying mechanism contributing to hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodelling, appears to be mediated by 15-PGDH and 15-KETE, via the ERK1/2 signalling pathway.