The key role of PGC-1α in mitochondrial biogenesis and the proliferation of pulmonary artery vascular smooth muscle cells at an early stage of hypoxic exposure

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) induced by hypoxia regulates mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative stress. However, the potential role of PGC-1α in hypoxia-promoted proliferation of pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) is completely unknown. In this study, we found that hypoxia significantly induced the expression of PGC-1α in cultured PASMCs and activated mitochondrial biogenesis through upregulation of nuclear respiratory factor-1 and mitochondria transcription factor A in a time-dependent manner. Knockdown of PGC-1α by siRNA abrogated hypoxia-induced PASMCs proliferation via the downregulation of PCNA, cyclinA, and cyclinE. Furthermore, we observed that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was involved in hypoxia induced PGC-1α expression and PASMCs proliferation. Taken together, these datas reveal PGC-1α as the key regulator to mediate mitochondrial biogenesis and the proliferation of PASMCs at an early stage of hypoxic exposure. This process might bring to light a potential adaptive mechanism for PASMCs to minimize hypoxic damage and our novel findings provide new insight into the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.