Endogenous ET-1 promotes ANP secretion through activation of COX2-L-PGDS-PPARγ signaling in hypoxic beating rat atria.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent stimulus for the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and hypoxia stimulates the release of ET-1, which is involved in the regulation of atrial ANP secretion. However, the precise mechanism of endogenous ET-1 in the regulation of hypoxia-induced ANP secretion is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism of hypoxia-induced endogenous ET-1 regulation of ANP secretion in isolated perfused hypoxic beating rat atria. The results of this study showed that acute hypoxia significantly stimulated ET-1 release and upregulated the expression of its type A as well as type B receptors (ETA and ETB receptors). Endogenous ET-1 induced by hypoxia markedly upregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) through activation of its two receptors, leading to an increase in lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) expression and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) production. L-PGDS-derived PGD2 activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), ultimately promoting hypoxia-induced ANP secretion. Conversely, L-PGDS-derived PGD2 may in turn regulate L-PGDS expression by a nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-mediated feedback mechanism. These results indicate that endogenous ET-1 induced by hypoxia promotes hypoxia-induced ANP secretion by activation of COX2-L-PGDS-PPARγ signaling in beating rat atria. In addition, the positive feedback loop between L-PGDS-derived PGD2 and L-PGDS expression induced by hypoxia is part of the mechanism of hypoxia-induced ANP secretion by endogenous ET-1.