Abstract
The nuclear receptor Nur77 is actively involved in a variety of pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer, airway inflammation, ARDS and pulmonary artery hypertension. However, it remains unknown whether Nur77 plays a role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema. The objective of this study is to identify the relationship between Nur77 and pulmonary edema. By using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), immunofluorescent staining and Western Blot, we found that Nur77 expression was markedly upregulated in endothelial cells in response to pulmonary edema. After the injection of SiNur77 endothelial cell edema reduces and restores its former structure. In conclusion, we believe that Nur77 plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema.
Keywords: Nur77; Endothelial Cells; Pulmonary Edema
Introduction
Pulmonary edema occurs when the safety mechanisms of the lung are overwhelmed by either high transvascular pressure gradients or increased microvascular permeability, which makes a large amount of tissue fluid unable to be absorbed by the pulmonary lymph and pulmonary vein system in a very short period of time. The fluid seeps from the pulmonary capillary, and accumulates in the alveolus, thus causing serious impairment of pulmonary ventilation and ventilation function. Pulmonary edema can cause dyspnea, sitting upright, cyanosis, sweating, and paroxysmal cough and is one of the most common causes for admission to the ICU [1].
Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) are integral to the alveoli-capillary barrier of the lung. The EC barrier integrity is disrupted in pulmonary edema [2]. The EC gaps allow for permeability of fluid, neutrophils and cytokines into the pulmonary parenchymal space [3]. The neutrophils that infiltrate the lungs express pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and contribute to both the endothelial and epithelial integrity disruption of the barriers [4,5]. The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of transcription factors contains 48 members [6]. NR4A receptors are a subset of orphan receptors which include NR4A1 (Nur77, TR3, NGFI-B), NR4A2 (Nurr1) and NR4A3 (NOR-1) [7-10]. Recently, much attention has been paid to the functional role of NR4A receptor in cardiovascular system. In vascular ECs, expression of Nur77 is increased by hypoxia, TNF-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to modulate EC growth, angiogenesis, and inflammation [11,12]. However, it remains unclear whether Nur77 is involved in pulmonary edema. In this article, we use both in vitro and in vivo models to explore the potential roles of Nur77 in pulmonary edema.
Materials and Methods
Mice
C57BL/6 mice were purchased from Shanghai Slac Laboratory Animal CO.LTD. All experimental protocols conducted on the mice were approved by the Committee for Animal Welfare of the Academic
Medical Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University and were performed in accordance with the standards established by Chinese government. Intraperitoneal injection of 0.1ml/10g adrenaline (1mg/ml) was administered to 8 weeks old male mice. Thirty minutes after injection, mice were anesthetized with isoflurane and the lungs were harvested.
Cell Isolation
Lung tissues were cut to 1mm3 and the filtrate was harvested. 5ul anti-CD31 antibody and 20ul magnetic beads were mixed for 20minutes at room temperature. Mix the filtrate and the mixture of antibody and beads in a ratio of 1:3 for 2 hours at room temperature. Then pulmonary endothelial cells were harvested.
Quantitative Real Time-PCR (qRT-PCR)
Total RNA was extracted from lung tissues and pulmonary endothelial cells using Trizol reagent kit (Invitrogen). The RNA concentration was measured using Nano Drop 2000 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc). Then qRT-PCR analysis was performed. Briefly, cDNA was synthesized from total RNA using High Capacity cDNA Archive Kit (Applied Biosystem). qRT-PCR was performed using SYBR Green qRT-PCR Master Mix Kit (AB science). qRT-PCR primers used for amplification of Nur77were: mice Nur77 (forwardprimer:5′-GAGTTCGGCAAGCCTACCAT-3′, reverse primer: 5′-GTGTACCCGTCCATGAAGGTG-3′), Cadh5 (forwardprimer:5′-CCACTGCTTTGGGAGCCTT-3′, reverse primer: 5′-GGCAGGTAGCATGTTGGGG-3′), Gapdh (forwardprimer:5′- AGGTCGGTGTGAACGGATTTG-3′, reverse primer: 5′-GGGGTCGTTGATGGCAACA-3′).
Immunofluorescent Staining
Pulmonary endothelial cells were fixed and sequentially incubated with anti–Nur77 polyclonal antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) and fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate (FITC)- conjugated donkey anti-rabbit antibody (Invitrogen). Images were visualized using an Olympus IX70 epifluorescence microscope.
Western Blot
Western blot analyses were performed on protein samples extracted from pulmonaryendothelial cells of C57BL/6 mice injected with PBS or adrenaline. Cell lysates were prepared using RIPA buffer (Thermo Scientific). Pulmonaryendothelial cells were homogenized in ice-cold cell lysis buffer. Protein concentrations were determined by the BCA Protein Assay Kit (Pierce, Rockford, IL, USA). Equal amounts of protein were electrophoresed on an SDSPAGE (10%) and transferred onto PVDF membranes. Blots were blocked with 5% nonfat milk in TBST and then developed with diluted antibodies against Nur77 (Abcam) or GAPDH (Santa Cruz Biotechnology)for 2 hr at room temperature and incubated with secondary antibodies(anti-rabbit, Abcam) for 1 hr. Immunoreactive products were detected by chemiluminescence with an enhanced chemiluminescence system (GE Healthcare).
Statistical Analyses
Results are presented as mean±SD. Student’s t test was employed to determine statistical significance. In all cases, P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
Experimental Protocol and Establishment of Mice Pulmonary Edema Models
To define the role of Nur77 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema, we first set up mice pulmonary edema models with C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal injection of adrenaline. The control group C57BL/6 mice received the same dosage of PBS. As a result, the weight and length of right lungs in adrenaline group are significantly increased compared with the control group. Lung sections of mice models stained with H&E show obvious edema and abscission occurring in endothelial cells in adrenaline group (Figure 1).
Total Lung Nur77 Increased in Pulmonary Edema Models
The expression of NR4A1 gene increased under the condition of hypoxia (Figure 2A). Total lung Nur77 increased in pulmonary edema models compared with control (Figure 2B). **P< 0.01.
Purification of Pulmonary Endothelial Cells
Specific marker of vascular endothelial cells Cdh5 was quantified by qRT-PCR. Pulmonary endothelial cells were stained by Immunofluorescent staining (VE-Cadherin/Dapi). Purified vascular endothelial cells were obtained by methods mentioned above (Figure 3). **P< 0.01.
Figure 2:
A. The expression of NR4A1 gene increased under the condition of hypoxia.
B. Total lung Nur77 increased in pulmonary edema models compared with control.
Nur77 Increased in Edematous Pulmonary Endothelial Cells
We sought to explorethe impact of Nur77 on edematous pulmonary endothelial cells. Edematous pulmonary endothelial cells were harvested. Western Blot and qRT-PCR were performed. As expected, Nur77 increased in edematous pulmonary endothelial cells (Figure 4). **P< 0.01.
Endothelial Edema Decreased After the Injection of SiNur77
After intraperitoneal injection of adrenaline in C57BL/6 mice, SiNur77 was injected via tail vein of mice immediately. After 30 minutes, we harvested the lungs and pulmonary endothelial cells. Western Blot and qRT-PCR for Nur77and VE-Cadherin were performed. Nur77 decreased while VE-Cadherin increased in edematous pulmonary endothelial cells in SiNur77 and adrenaline group compared with adrenaline group. H&E staining of lung sections showed that edema and abscission decreased in SiNur77 and adrenaline group compared with adrenaline group. The structure of endothelial cells was close to control group (Figure 5). *P< 0.05, **P< 0.01.
Discussion
Pulmonary edema is caused by the disruption of the pulmonary endothelial barrier [13]. The incidence of pulmonary edema is high and the prognosis is poor. Pulmonary edema can lead to severe hypoxemia. Nur77 is induced in vascular ECs by several stimuli, such as hypoxia, TNF-α, and VEGF, and modulate EC growth, survival, and angiogenesis [11,12]. This is consistent with our research. Nur77 expression was markedly upregulated in endothelial cells in response to pulmonary edema. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is reported to have profound effects by regulating the epithelial-endothelial barrier, vascular permeability, and inflammatory cytokines [14]. Elevated VEGF levels may be associated with pulmonary inflammation and edema [15]. In ECs exposed to VEGF, Nur77 is one of the most robustly upregulated genes [16]. VEGF-mediated upregulation of Nur77 is mediated through activation of the PKD/HDAC7/MEF2 pathway [17,18]. This suggests that Nur77 may damage the endothelial cell barrier and cause pulmonary edema by regulating VEFG.
In summary, Nur77 has emerged as an important regulator of inflammation in various diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema is largely unknown. In this study, we document that Nur77 expression was markedly upregulated in endothelial cells in response to pulmonary edema. This is consistent with the theory that pulmonary edema is caused by the disruption of the integrity of ECs [4,5]. And after the injection of SiNur77, the edema and abscission of decreased EC decreased. However, it remains unclear which signal pathway does Nur77 work through and which cytokines have changed in pulmonary edema. These questions require further study. In summary, the data reported herein suggests that Nur77 plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary edema.
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