The effect of hypoxia on ER-β expression in the lung and cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells

17-β estradiol (E2) exerts protective effects in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) via endothelial cell estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent mechanisms. However, the effects of hypoxia on ER expression in the pulmonary-right ventricle (RV) axis remain unknown. Based on previous data suggesting a role of ER-β in mediating E2 protection, we hypothesized that hypoxia selectively up-regulates ER-β in the lung and pulmonary endothelial cells. In our Male Sprague-Dawley rat model, chronic hypoxia exposure (10% FiO2) resulted in a robust HPH phenotype associated with significant increases in ER- β but not ER-α protein in the lung via western blotting. More importantly, this hypoxia-induced ER-β increase was not replicated in the RV, left ventricle (LV) or in the liver. Hence, hypoxia-induced ER-β up-regulation appears to be lung-specific. Ex vivo, hypoxia exposure time-dependently up-regulated ER-β but not ER-α in cultured primary rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAECs) exposed to hypoxia (1% O2) for 4, 24 or 72h. Furthermore, the hypoxia induced ER-β protein abundance, while not accompanied by increases in its own transcript, was associated with ER-β nuclear translocation, suggesting increase in activity as well as post-transcriptional up-regulation of ER-β. Indeed, the requirement for ER-β activation was indicated in hypoxic ER-βKO mice where administration of E2 failed to inhibit hypoxia-induced pro-proliferative ERK1/2 signaling. Interestingly, HIF-1α accumulation was noted in lung tissue of hypoxic ER-βKO mice; consistent with previously reported negative feedback of ER-β on HIF-1α protein and transcriptional activation. In RAPECs, HIF-1 stabilization and overexpression did not replicate the effects of ER- β up-regulation seen in gas hypoxia; suggestive that HIF-1α is not sufficient for ER-β up- regulation. Similarly, HIF-1 inhibition with chetomin did not result in ER-β down-regulation. HIF-1α knockdown in RPAECs in hypoxic conditions is currently being investigated. Hypoxia increases ER- β, but not ER-α in the lung and lung vascular cells. Interpreted in context of beneficial effects of E2 on hypoxic PA and RV remodeling, our data suggest a protective role for ER-β in HPH. The mechanisms by which hypoxia increases ER-β appears to be post-transcriptional and HIF-1α independent. Elucidating hypoxia-related ER-β signaling pathways in PAECs may reveal novel therapeutic targets in HPH.