Metabolism of asymmetric dimethylarginine in hypoxia: from bench to bedside

TY - JOUR

T1 - Metabolism of asymmetric dimethylarginine in hypoxia: from bench to bedside

AU - Hannemann, Juliane

AU - Zummack, Julia

AU - Hillig, Jonas

AU - Böger, Rainer

N1 - © The Author(s) 2020.

PY - 2020/4/22

Y1 - 2020/4/22

N2 - Acute hypoxia and chronic hypoxia induce pulmonary vasoconstriction. While hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is a physiological response if parts of the lung are affected, global exposure to hypoxic conditions may lead to clinical conditions like high-altitude pulmonary hypertension. Nitric oxide is the major vasodilator released from the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation is impaired in hypoxic conditions. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis is the most rapid and easily reversible molecular mechanism to regulate nitric oxide-dependent vascular function in response to physiological and pathophysiological stimuli. Asymmetric dimethylarginine is an endogenous, competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and a risk marker for major cardiovascular events and mortality. Elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine has been observed in animal models of hypoxia as well as in human cohorts under chronic and chronic intermittent hypoxia at high altitude. In lowlanders, asymmetric dimethylarginine is high in patients with pulmonary hypertension. We have recently shown that high asymmetric dimethylarginine at sea level is a predictor for high-altitude pulmonary hypertension. Asymmetric dimethylarginine is a highly regulated molecule, both by its biosynthesis and metabolism. Methylation of L-arginine by protein arginine methyltransferases was shown to be increased in hypoxia. Furthermore, the metabolism of asymmetric dimethylarginine by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH1 and DDAH2) is decreased in animal models of hypoxia. Whether these changes are caused by transcriptional or posttranslational modifications remains to be elucidated. Current data suggest a major role of asymmetric dimethylarginine in regulating pulmonary arterial nitric oxide production in hypoxia. Further studies are needed to decipher the molecular mechanisms regulating asymmetric dimethylarginine in hypoxia and to understand their clinical significance.

AB - Acute hypoxia and chronic hypoxia induce pulmonary vasoconstriction. While hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is a physiological response if parts of the lung are affected, global exposure to hypoxic conditions may lead to clinical conditions like high-altitude pulmonary hypertension. Nitric oxide is the major vasodilator released from the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation is impaired in hypoxic conditions. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis is the most rapid and easily reversible molecular mechanism to regulate nitric oxide-dependent vascular function in response to physiological and pathophysiological stimuli. Asymmetric dimethylarginine is an endogenous, competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and a risk marker for major cardiovascular events and mortality. Elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine has been observed in animal models of hypoxia as well as in human cohorts under chronic and chronic intermittent hypoxia at high altitude. In lowlanders, asymmetric dimethylarginine is high in patients with pulmonary hypertension. We have recently shown that high asymmetric dimethylarginine at sea level is a predictor for high-altitude pulmonary hypertension. Asymmetric dimethylarginine is a highly regulated molecule, both by its biosynthesis and metabolism. Methylation of L-arginine by protein arginine methyltransferases was shown to be increased in hypoxia. Furthermore, the metabolism of asymmetric dimethylarginine by dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH1 and DDAH2) is decreased in animal models of hypoxia. Whether these changes are caused by transcriptional or posttranslational modifications remains to be elucidated. Current data suggest a major role of asymmetric dimethylarginine in regulating pulmonary arterial nitric oxide production in hypoxia. Further studies are needed to decipher the molecular mechanisms regulating asymmetric dimethylarginine in hypoxia and to understand their clinical significance.

U2 - 10.1177/2045894020918846

DO - 10.1177/2045894020918846

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 32313644

VL - 10

SP - 2045894020918846

JO - PULM CIRC

JF - PULM CIRC

SN - 2045-8932

IS - 2

ER -