SOX17 Deficiency Mediates Pulmonary Hypertension At the Crossroads of Sex, Metabolism, and Genetics

Shreya Sangam, Xutong Sun, Tae Hwi Schwantes-An, Manivannan Yegambaram, Qing Lu, Yinan Shi, Todd Cook, Amanda Fisher, Andrea L. Frump, Anna Coleman, Yanan Sun, Shuxin Liang, Howard Crawford, Katie A. Lutz, Avinash D. Maun, Michael W. Pauciulo, Jason H. Karnes, Ketul R. Chaudhary, Duncan J. Stewart, Paul R. LanglaisMohit Jain, Mona Alotaibi, Tim Lahm, Yan Jin, Haiwei Gu, Haiyang Tang, William C. Nichols, Stephen M. Black, Ankit A. Desai

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rationale: Genetic studies suggest that SOX17 (SRY-related HMG-box 17) deficiency increases pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) risk. Objectives: On the basis of pathological roles of estrogen and HIF2a (hypoxia-inducible factor 2a) signaling in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs), we hypothesized that SOX17 is a target of estrogen signaling that promotes mitochondrial function and attenuates PAH development via HIF2a inhibition. Methods: We used metabolic (Seahorse) and promoter luciferase assays in PAECs together with the chronic hypoxia murine model to test the hypothesis. Measurements and Main Results: Sox17 expression was reduced in PAH tissues (rodent models and from patients). Chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension was exacerbated by mice with conditional Tie2-Sox17 (Sox17EC2/2) deletion and attenuated by transgenic Tie2-Sox17 overexpression (Sox17Tg). On the basis of untargeted proteomics, metabolism was the top pathway altered by SOX17 deficiency in PAECs. Mechanistically, we found that HIF2a concentrations were increased in the lungs of Sox17EC2/2 and reduced in those from Sox17Tg mice. Increased SOX17 promoted oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial function in PAECs, which were partly attenuated by HIF2a overexpression. Rat lungs in males displayed higher Sox17 expression versus females, suggesting repression by estrogen signaling. Supporting 16a-hydroxyestrone (16aOHE; a pathologic estrogen metabolite)-mediated repression of SOX17 promoter activity, Sox17Tg mice attenuated 16aOHE-mediated exacerbations of chronic hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Finally, in adjusted analyses in patients with PAH, we report novel associations between a SOX17 risk variant, rs10103692, and reduced plasma citrate concentrations (n = 1, 326). Conclusions: Cumulatively, SOX17 promotes mitochondrial bioenergetics and attenuates PAH, in part, via inhibition of HIF2a. 16aOHE mediates PAH development via downregulation of SOX17, linking sexual dimorphism and SOX17 genetics in PAH.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1055-1069
Number of pages15
JournalAmerican journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
Volume207
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2023

Keywords

  • 16a-hydroxyestrone
  • SRY-related HMG-box 17
  • hypoxia-inducible factor 2a
  • metabolism
  • pulmonary arterial hypertension

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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