Abstract 14954: Mitochondrial C-Src Regulates Impaired Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Right Ventricles in Pulmonary Hypertension

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has poor prognosis with presence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. However, no RV targeted therapies are available. Mitochondrial (Mito) energy deficiency is detrimental on RV function in PH, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Tyrosine kinase phosphorylation (P-Tyr) has been a critical regulatory mechanism in mito. While mito localized c-Src is recognized as the major tyrosine kinase, little is known regarding its role in RV in PH. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that mito c-Src regulates impaired mito bioenergetics in RV in PH. Methods: PH was induced in adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by injecting 20 mg/kg SU5416, followed by 3 wks of hypoxia (10% FiO 2 ) and then 4 wks of normoxia exposure. Control rats injected with vehicle were kept in normoxia. After echocardiography and hemodynamics, RV tissues were collected for mito respiration using high resolution O2K-FluoRespirometer, mito morphology using electron microscopy, and biochemical assays. Cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells were used for in vitro mechanistic studies. Results: Compared to controls, PH rats show increased RV systolic pressure and RV dysfunction. Mito complex I-coupled oxidative phosphorylation and electron transfer capacity are significantly reduced in RV of PH rats (O 2 flux per mass: 216±21 vs. 90±19 and 209±22 vs. 91±22 pmol·s-1·mg-1, respectively, p <0.01, n=6 each), which is associated with decreased ATP but no changes in mito membrane integrity, mito DNA content, or mito size. Mito c-Src kinase activity and expression are significantly reduced in RV of PH rats and in dysfunctional RV of human patients. Chemical or molecular inhibition of mito c-Src results in a similar reduction of mito respiration in culture as found in RV of PH rats and is associated with decreased ATP production. Mito c-Src phosphorylates NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] flavoprotein 2 (NDUFV2), a critical protein for complex I, and P-Tyr of NDUFV2 is reduced in RV of PH rats. Conclusions: Impaired mito bioenergetics is associated with progression of RV dysfunction. Basal mito c-Src kinase activity is required for mito bioenergetics and mito c-Src-dependent P-Tyr of NDUFV2 may serve as a regulatory mechanism in impaired RV mito bioenergetics in settings of PH.