MNSOD PROTEIN-CONTENT CHANGES IN HYPOXIC/HYPOPERFUSED LUNG-TISSUE

Previous studies using an in vivo rabbit model in which lung tissue hypoxia/hypoperfusion was created by unilateral lung collapse for 7 days demonstrated a decrease in MnSOD activity in previously hypoxic/hypoperfused lungs. In the present study, we determined whether tissue hypoxia/hypoperfusion decreased MnSOD protein concentration or mRNA expression in the lung as well, changes that would suggest pretranslational regulation of enzyme activity. Expression of MnSOD may be critical in determining the degree of tissue injury during re-oxygenation because the mitochondrial electron transport system produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) both during hypoxia and re-oxygenation. We purified MnSOD protein from rabbit livers to a specific activity of similar to 3,500 U/mg protein and found the amino terminal sequence nearly identical to those of the rat and human MnSOD proteins. Lung MnSOD protein content was quantitated by immunoassay, and MnSOD mRNA content was determined by slot blotting. Results from five control and six experimental rabbits, the right lungs of which had been hypoxic/hypoperfused because of collapse for 7 days, demonstrated a 32% decrease (P < 0.03) in MnSOD protein content (42 +/- 8 mu g/mg DNA in hypoxic lungs compared with 61 +/- 3 mu g/mg DNA in contralateral lungs) that was not due to decreased numbers of mitochondria. Lung succinate dehydrogenase activity, a mitochondrial marker, did not change in hypoxic/hypoperfused lungs. The mRNA for MnSOD did not change relative to B-actin mRNA in lungs that had been hypoxic and hypoperfused for 7 days. Lung tissue hypoxia/hypoperfusion, resulting from unilateral lung collapse, was associated with parallel decreases in both MnSOD activity and protein content. MnSOD activity in hypoxic lung tissue appears related to changes in enzyme protein content rather than mRNA, suggesting that in this model of lung tissue hypoxia MnSOD is regulated at the post-transcriptional level.