FIG. 2.

Phosphorylation of PDH and gene expression in vascular tissue is regulated by G6PD. Phosphorylation of PDH subunits (E1–E3) was determined by In Cell Western blot assay kit (PhosphoPDH In-Cell ELISA Kit [IR]; Abcam, MA) in PASMCs cultured in normoxia (21% O₂) and hypoxia (3% O₂) treated with or without DHEA (100 μM). (A) As shown, phosphorylation of PDH, which inhibits acetyl CoA formation from pyruvate, was increased in hypoxic PASMCs and DHEA decreased hypoxia-induced phosphorylation of PDH. (B) Expression of genes critical in endothelial cells and PASMCs growth and function is modulated in vascular tissue of G6PD-deficient as compared with wild-type mice. *p < 0.05 T-test. DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone; G6PD, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase; PASMCs, pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells; PDH, pyruvate dehydrogenase.