Hypoxia modulates the expression of leucine zipper-positive MYPT1 and its interaction with protein kinase G and Rho kinases in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells

We have shown previously that acute hypoxia downregulates protein kinase G (PKG) expression and activity in ovine fetal pulmonary vessels and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC). Here, we report that acute hypoxia also reduces the expression of leucinezipper-positive MYPT1 (LZ+MYPT1), a subunit of myosin light chain (MLC) phosphatase, in ovine fetal pulmonary arterial SMC. We found that in hypoxia, there is greater interaction between LZ+ MYPT1 and RhoA and Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1)/Rho kinase 2 (ROCK2) and decreased interaction between LZ+ MYPT1 and PKG, resulting in increased MLC20 phosphorylation, a higher pMLC20/MLC20 ratio and SMC contraction. In normoxic SMC PKG overexpression, LZ+ MYPT1 expression is upregulated while PKG knockdown had an opposite effect. LZ+ MYPT1 overexpression enhanced the interaction between PKG and LZ+ MYPT1. Overexpression of a mutant LZ- MYPT1 isoform in SMC mimicked the effects of acute hypoxia and decreased pMLC20/MLC20 ratio. Collectively, our data suggest that hypoxia downregulates LZ+ MYPT1 expression by suppressing PKG levels, reduces the interaction of LZ+ MYPT1 with PKG and promotes LZ+ MYPT1 interaction with RhoA or ROCK1/ROCK2, thereby promoting pulmonary arterial SMC contraction.