Dead space ventilation promotes alveolar hypocapnia reducing surfactant secretion by altering mitochondrial function.

BACKGROUND: In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), pulmonary perfusion failure increases physiologic dead space ventilation (VD/VT), leading to a decline of the alveolar CO2 concentration [CO2]iA. Although it has been shown that alveolar hypocapnia contributes to formation of atelectasis and surfactant depletion, a typical complication in ARDS, the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated so far. METHODS: In isolated perfused rat lungs, cytosolic or mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]cyt or [Ca2+]mito, respectively) of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), surfactant secretion and the projected area of alveoli were quantified by real-time fluorescence or bright-field imaging (n=3-7 per group). In ventilated White New Zealand rabbits, the left pulmonary artery was ligated and the size of subpleural alveoli was measured by intravital microscopy (n=4 per group). Surfactant secretion was determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) by western blot. RESULTS: Low [CO2]iA decreased [Ca2+]cyt and increased [Ca2+]mito in AECs, leading to reduction of Ca2+-dependent surfactant secretion, and alveolar ventilation in situ. Mitochondrial inhibition by ruthenium red or rotenone blocked these responses indicating that mitochondria are key players in CO2 sensing. Furthermore, ligature of the pulmonary artery of rabbits decreased alveolar ventilation, surfactant secretion and lung compliance in vivo. Addition of 5% CO2 to the inspiratory gas inhibited these responses. CONCLUSIONS: Accordingly, we provide evidence that alveolar hypocapnia leads to a Ca2+ shift from the cytosol into mitochondria. The subsequent decline of [Ca2+]cyt reduces surfactant secretion and thus regional ventilation in lung regions with high VD/VT. Additionally, the regional hypoventilation provoked by perfusion failure can be inhibited by inspiratory CO2 application.

IDH3 mediates apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells type 2 due to mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake during hypocapnia.

In adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) pulmonary perfusion failure increases physiologic dead-space (VD/VT) correlating with mortality. High VD/VT results in alveolar hypocapnia, which has been demonstrated to cause edema formation, atelectasis, and surfactant depletion, evoked, at least in part, by apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). However, the mechanism underlying the hypocapnia-induced AEC apoptosis is unknown. Here, using fluorescent live-cell imaging of cultured AEC type 2 we could show that in terms of CO2 sensing the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 3 seems to be an important player because hypocapnia resulted independently from pH in an elevation of IDH3 activity and subsequently in an increase of NADH, the substrate of the respiratory chain. As a consequence, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨ) rose causing a Ca2+ shift from cytosol into mitochondria, whereas the IDH3 knockdown inhibited these responses. Furthermore, the hypocapnia-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake resulted in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and both the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and ROS production induced apoptosis. Accordingly, we provide evidence that in AEC type 2 hypocapnia induces elevation of IDH3 activity leading to apoptosis. This finding might give new insight into the pathogenesis of ARDS and may help to develop novel strategies to reduce tissue injury in ARDS.