Hypoxia increases equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 activity by a transcriptional independent mechanism in human umbilical vein endothelium

Abstract

Low oxygen tension (hypoxia) reduces adenosine transport in several types of mammalian cells. Adenosine transport is mediated by human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) and hENT2 in human umbilical vein endothelium (HUVEC), a fetal cell type that grows under 5% O2 (ie. normoxia for this cell type). We studied whether hypoxia alters hENT2 expression and activity in HUVEC. Methods: Cells were cultured (0-24 h) in 5% or 2% O2 (hypoxia), and [3H]adenosine uptake (125 and 500 μM, 4 μCi/ml, 20 s, 37°C) was measured in absence or presence of 100 nM nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR, hENT1 inhibitor). hENT2 mRNA was quantified by real time RT-PCR, and protein abundance was determined by Western blot. SLC29A2 (for hENT2) promoter activity was measured following transfection (electroporation, 320 V, 30 ms) with pGL3 basic plasmid (firefly/renilla luciferase reporter gene) carrying -1477 bp and -587 bp of the promoter sequence. Results: Hypoxia reduced hENT2 mRNA expression (~55%), and promoter activity (~50%), but did not alter hENT2 protein abundance. Adenosine uptake via hENT2 was increased (2-fold) in hypoxia. Conclusions: Adenosine uptake via hENT2 may be modulated by post-translational mechanisms in hypoxia in HUVEC. Supported by FONDECYT 1030781/1030607/7050030. A Torres holds a School of Medicine research fellowship, and M Farías holds a CONICYT-PhD fellowship.