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Hypoxia‐induced deoxycytidine kinase expression contributes to apoptosis in chronic lung disease
Author(s) -
Weng Tingting,
KarmoutyQuintana Harry,
GarciaMorales Luis J.,
Molina Jose G.,
Pedroza Mesias,
Bunge Raquel R.,
Bruckner Brian A.,
Loebe Matthias,
Seethamraju Harish,
Blackburn Michael R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.12-222067
Subject(s) - apoptosis , cancer research , kinase , hypoxia (environmental) , biology , deoxycytidine kinase , immunology , medicine , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , cancer , deoxycytidine , organic chemistry , gemcitabine , oxygen
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent inflammation and tissue remodeling and is a leading cause of death in the United States. Increased apoptosis of pulmonary epithelial cells is thought to play a role in COPD development and progression. Identification of signaling pathways resulting in increased apoptosis in COPD can be used in the development of novel therapeutic interventions. Deoxyadenosine (dAdo) is a DNA breakdown product that amplifies lymphocyte apoptosis by being phosphorylated to deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP). dAdo is maintained at low levels by adenosine deaminase (ADA). This study demonstrated that mice lacking ADA developed COPD manifestations in association with elevated dAdo and dATP levels and increased apoptosis in the lung. Deoxycitidine kinase (DCK), a major enzyme for dAdo phosphorylation, was up‐regulated in mouse and human airway epithelial cells in association with air‐space enlargement. Hypoxia was identified as a novel regulator of DCK, and inhibition of DCK resulted in diminished dAdo‐mediated apoptosis in the lungs. Our results suggest that activating the dAdo‐DCK‐dATP pathway directly results in increased apoptosis in the lungs of mice with air‐space enlargement and suggests a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of COPD.—Weng, T., Karmouty‐Quintana, H., Garcia‐Morales, L. J., Molina, J. G., Pedroza, M., Bunge, R. R., Bruckner, B. A., Loebe, M., Seethamraju, H., and Blackburn, M. R. Hypoxia‐induced deoxycytidine kinase expression contributes to apoptosis in chronic lung disease. FASEB J. 27, 2013–2026 (2013). www.fasebj.org