Background: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants exposed to high levels of oxygen. This is mainly attributed to increased oxidative stress and angiogenesis defects impacting lung alveolarization.
Methods: Here we use optical imaging to investigate the role of Bcl-2 in modulation of oxidative stress and angiogenesis and pathogenesis of BPD. Cryoimaging of the mitochondrial redox state of mouse lungs was applied to determine the metabolic state of the lungs from Bcl-2 +/+ (control), Bcl-2-deleted in the endothelium (Bcl-2 VE-cad) and Bcl-2-deficient (Bcl-2 -/-; global null) using mitochondrial metabolic coenzymes NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide), and FADH2 (Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide) as the primary electron carriers in oxidative phosphorylation.
Results: We observed a 47% and 26% decrease in the NADH redox in Bcl-2 deficient lungs, Bcl-2 -/- and Bcl-2 VE-cad, respectively.
Conclusions: Thus, Bcl-2 deficiency is associated with a significant increase in oxidative stress contributing to reduced angiogenesis and enhanced pathogenesis of BPD.
