Chronic hypoxia enhances 15-lipoxygenase-mediated vasorelaxation in rabbit arteries

Abstract

15-Lipoxygenase (15-LO-1) metabolizes arachidonic acid (AA) to 11,12,15-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (THETAs) and 15-hydroxy-11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (HEETA) that dilate rabbit arteries. Increased endothelial 15-LO-1 expression enhances arterial relaxations to agonists. We tested the effect of hypoxia on 15-LO-1 expression, THETA and HEETA synthesis, and relaxations in rabbit arteries. The incubation of rabbit aortic endothelial cells and isolated aortas in 0.7% O₂ increased 15-LO-1 expression. Rabbits were housed in a hypoxic atmosphere of 12% O₂ for 5 days. 15-LO-1 expression increased in the endothelium of the arteries of rabbits in 12% O₂ compared with room air. THETA and HEETA synthesis was also enhanced in aortas and mesenteric arteries. AA hyperpolarized the smooth muscle cells in indomethacin- and phenylephrine-treated mesenteric arteries of hypoxic rabbits from −29.4 ± 1 to −50.1 ± 3 mV. The hyperpolarization to AA was less in arteries of normoxic rabbits (from −26.0 ± 2 to −37 ± 2 mV). This AA-induced hyperpolarization was inhibited by the 15-LO inhibitor BW-755C. Nitric oxide and prostaglandin-independent maximum relaxations to acetylcholine (79.7 ± 2%) and AA (38.3 ± 4%) were enhanced in mesenteric arteries from hypoxic rabbits compared with the normoxic rabbits (49.7 ± 6% and 19.9 ± 2%, respectively). These relaxations were inhibited by BW-755C and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Therefore, hypoxia increased the relaxations to agonists in the rabbit mesenteric arteries by enhancing endothelial 15-LO-1 expression and synthesis of the hyperpolarizing factors THETA and HEETA.