Cell death is a prominent feature in lungs following prolonged hyperoxia. Caveolae are omega-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane. Caveolin-1 (cav-1), a 22-kDa transmembrane scaffolding protein, is the principal structural component of caveolae. We have recently shown that deletion of cav-1 (cav-1 Ϫ/Ϫ ) protected against hyperoxia-induced cell death and lung injury both in vitro and in vivo; however, the mechanisms remain unclear. Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, inhibits apoptosis in tumor cells. Although emerging evidence suggests that survivin is involved in wound healing, especially in vascular injuries, its role in hyperoxia-induced lung injury has not been investigated. Our current data demonstrated that hyperoxia induced apoptosis via suppressing survivin expression. Deletion of cav-1 abolished this suppression and subsequently protected against hyperoxia-induced apoptosis. Using "gain" and "loss" of function assays, we determined that survivin protected lung cells from hyperoxia-induced apoptosis via the inhibition of apoptosis executor caspase-3. Overexpression of survivin by deletion of cav-1 was regulated by Egr-1. Egr-1 functioned as a negative regulator of survivin expression. Deletion of cav-1 upregulated survivin via decreased Egr-1 binding of the survivin promoter region. Together, this study illustrates the effect of hyperoxia on survivin expression and the role of survivin in hyperoxia-induced apoptosis. We also demonstrate that deletion of cav-1 protects hyperoxia-induced apoptosis via modulation of survivin expression.caspase-3; Egr-1 ACUTE LUNG INJURY (ALI) and its more severe manifestation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are devastating conditions that account for high morbidity and mortality among critically ill patients (28, 44). Exposure to high O 2 tension (hyperoxia) has been shown in animal models to induce lung injury that closely resembles ARDS. Hyperoxia triggers an extensive inflammatory response in the lung that is typically followed by severe damage of the alveolar-capillary barrier. This damage results in impaired gas exchange and pulmonary edema (10,30,47). Cell death of pulmonary capillary endothelial cells and alveolar epithelial cells is the major pathological change in hyperoxia-injured lungs (1,13,14,26). Compromised epithelial and endothelial cell function leads to fluid and macromolecule accumulation in the air space and can cause clinical respiratory failure and death (1,13,14,26,47).Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: Y. Jin, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Dept. of Medicine, Univ. of Pittsburgh, MUH 628NW, 3459 5th Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (e-mail: jiny@upmc.edu). Fig. 1. Deletion of caveolin-1 (cav-1) protected hyperoxia-induced apoptosis. Cells were treated with hyperoxia (time course), and caspase-3 activity was measured as described in MATERIALS AND METHODS. A: wild-type and cav-1 Ϫ/Ϫ fibroblasts were exposed to hyperoxia. Caspase-3 activity was measured. A time c...