Hypoxia decreases proteins involved in epithelial electrolyte transport inA549 cells and rat lung

Fluid reabsorption from alveolar space is driven by active Na reabsorption via epithelial Na channels (ENaCs) and Na-K-ATPase. Both are inhibited by h ypoxia. Here we tested whether hypoxia decreases Na transport by decreasing the number of copies of transporters in alveolar epithelial cells and in l ungs of hypoxic rats. Membrane fractions were prepared from A549 cells expo sed to hypoxia (3% O-2) as well as from whole lung tissue and alveolar type II cells from rats exposed to hypoxia. Transport proteins were measured by Western blot analysis. In A549 cells, alpha (1)- and beta (1)-Na-K-ATPase, Na/K/2Cl cotransport, and ENaC proteins decreased during hypoxia. In whole lung tissue, alpha (1)-Na-K-ATPase and Na/K/2Cl cotransport decreased. alp ha- and beta -ENaC mRNAs also decreased in hypoxic lungs. Similar results w ere seen in alveolar type II cells from hypoxic rats. These results indicat e a slow decrease in the amount of Na-transporting proteins in alveolar epi thelial cells during exposure to hypoxia that also occurs in vivo in lungs from hypoxic animals. The reduced number of transporters might account for the decreased transport activity and impaired edema clearance in hypoxic lu ngs.