Science and Research

Bypassing mitochondrial complex III using alternative oxidase inhibits acute pulmonary oxygen sensing

Mitochondria play an important role in sensing both acute and chronic hypoxia in the pulmonary vasculature, but their primary oxygen-sensing mechanism and contribution to stabilization of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) remains elusive. Alteration of the mitochondrial electron flux and increased superoxide release from complex III has been proposed as an essential trigger for hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). We used mice expressing a tunicate alternative oxidase, AOX, which maintains electron flux when respiratory complexes III and/or IV are inhibited. Respiratory restoration by AOX prevented acute HPV and hypoxic responses of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC), acute hypoxia-induced redox changes of NADH and cytochrome c, and superoxide production. In contrast, AOX did not affect the development of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and HIF-1alpha stabilization. These results indicate that distal inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in PASMC is an essential initial step for acute but not chronic oxygen sensing.

  • Sommer, N.
  • Alebrahimdehkordi, N.
  • Pak, O.
  • Knoepp, F.
  • Strielkov, I.
  • Scheibe, S.
  • Dufour, E.
  • Andjelkovic, A.
  • Sydykov, A.
  • Saraji, A.
  • Petrovic, A.
  • Quanz, K.
  • Hecker, M.
  • Kumar, M.
  • Wahl, J.
  • Kraut, S.
  • Seeger, W.
  • Schermuly, R. T.
  • Ghofrani, H. A.
  • Ramser, K.
  • Braun, T.
  • Jacobs, H. T.
  • Weissmann, N.
  • Szibor, M.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba0694
Journal: Sci Adv
Pages: eaba0694 
Number: 16
Work Type: Original
Location: UGMLC
Disease Area: PH
Partner / Member: JLU
Access-Number: 32426457
See publication on PubMed

DZL Engagements

chevron-down