Reduced expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme in Caveolin-1 knockout mouse lungs

Nikolaos A. Maniatis, Irina V. Balyasnikova, Roman Metzger, Maricela Castellon, David J. Visintine, David E. Schwartz, Richard D. Minshall, Sergei M. Danilov*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reduced lung capillary expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a key enzyme in cardiovascular pathophysiology, and of caveolin-1, an important regulator of endothelial cell signalling, has been demonstrated in various models of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We addressed the relationship between PAH and ACE expression in caveolin-1 knockout mice (Cav1-/-, which have moderate PAH. Tissue ACE activity was reduced by 50% in lungs from 3-month-old Cav1-/- mice compared to wild type (WT). A similar reduction in lung endothelial ACE expression was observed by measuring the lung uptake of 125I-labeled monoclonal anti-ACE antibody and by quantitative immunohistochemistry. These alterations in ACE are limited to capillary segments of the pulmonary circulation. Functionally, the increase in pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in response to ACE conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in isolated, perfused mouse lungs was reduced significantly in Cav1-/- mice compared to WT. Thus, these complementary approaches demonstrate the dependence of lung microvascular endothelial cell ACE protein expression on caveolin-1 expression and underscore the vital role of caveolin-1-regulated pulmonary vascular homeostasis on endothelial ACE expression and activity. In summary, we have revealed a novel role of caveolin-1 in the regulation of ACE expression in pulmonary capillary endothelial cells. Further understanding of the mechanism by which reduced caveolin-1 expression leads altered pulmonary vascular development, PAH, and reduced ACE expression may have important clinical implications in patients with these severe lung diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)250-257
Number of pages8
JournalMicrovascular Research
Volume80
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2010

Funding

This research was supported by American Lung Association Career Investigator Award CI21610 (SMD) and NIH NHLBI grants HL60678 and HL71626 (RDM).

Keywords

  • Anti-ACE monoclonal antibody
  • Endothelial dysfunction
  • Pulmonary hypertension

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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