Effects of hyperoxic exposure on signal transduction pathways in the lung

• Hyperoxic exposure is often applied in clinical practice, but might cause lung damage.
• Lung oxidative stress activates the MAPKs ERK1/2, JNK and p38.
• ERK activation in lung cells usually has protective effects.
• JNK and p38 more frequently show pro-apoptotic effects in response to hyperoxia.

Exposure to supraphysiological concentrations of oxygen is often applied in clinical practice to enhance oxygenation in acute or chronic lung injury. However, hyperoxic exposure is associated with increased reactive oxygen species production, which can be toxic to pulmonary endothelial and alveolar epithelial cells. Oxidative stress activates the pathways of the mitogen-activated protein kinases family: extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), C-Jun-terminal protein kinase (JNK1/2), and p38 kinase. Several studies have suggested that ERK activation in lung cells has a protective effect in response to hyperoxia, through stimulation of DNA repair and antioxidant mechanisms, and prolonged cell survival. Conversely, JNK1/2 and p38 kinase have been most frequently reported to have roles in induction of apoptotic responses. Moreover, exogenous factors, such as ATP, retinoic acid, substance P, thioredoxin, inosine and laminin, can have cytoprotective effects against hyperoxia-induced cell damage, through promotion of ERK activation and/or limiting JNK and p38 involvement.