Lozon TI, Eastman AJ, Matute-Bello G, Chen P, Hallstrand TS, Altemeier WA. PKR-dependent CHOP induction limits hyperoxia-induced lung injury. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 300: L422-L429, 2011. First published December 24, 2010 doi:10.1152 doi:10. /ajplung.00166.2010 is commonly employed in patients with respiratory failure; however, hyperoxia is also a potential contributor to lung injury. In animal models, hyperoxia causes oxidative stress in the lungs, resulting in increased inflammation, edema, and permeability. We hypothesized that oxidative stress from prolonged hyperoxia leads to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, resulting in activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) and induction of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), a transcription factor associated with cell death in the setting of persistent ER stress. To test this hypothesis, we exposed the mouse lung epithelial cell line MLE-12 to 95% O2 for 8 -24 h and evaluated for evidence of UPR induction and CHOP induction. Hyperoxia caused increased CHOP expression without other evidence of UPR activation. Because CHOP expression is preceded by phosphorylation of the ␣-subunit of the eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF2␣), we evaluated the role of double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), a non-UPR-associated eIF2␣ kinase. Hyperoxia caused PKR phosphorylation, and RNA interference knockdown of PKR attenuated hyperoxia-induced CHOP expression. In vivo, hyperoxia induced PKR phosphorylation and CHOP expression in the lungs without other biochemical evidence for ER stress. Additionally, Ddit3 Ϫ/Ϫ (CHOP-null) mice had increased lung edema and permeability, indicating a previously unknown protective role for CHOP after prolonged hyperoxia. We conclude that hyperoxia increases CHOP expression via an ER stress-independent, PKRdependent pathway and that increased CHOP expression protects against hyperoxia-induced lung injury.CCAAT enhancer-binding protein homologous protein; acute respiratory distress syndrome; endoplasmic reticulum stress; epithelial cell; eukaryotic initiation factor-2␣; activating transcription factor-4; double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase OXYGEN SUPPLEMENTATION is routinely used in the management of patients with acute respiratory failure. However, prolonged exposure to hyperoxia has long been recognized as a potential contributor to acute lung injury (26). In animals, prolonged exposure to hyperoxia causes lung injury, characterized by cell death, increased lung permeability, edema, and inflammation (5, 29). Although the exact mechanisms by which hyperoxia causes lung injury are incompletely understood, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular apoptosis appear to play important roles (1).One potential mechanism linking ROS generation and cell death is endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, resulting in activation of the associated unfolded protein response (UPR) (23). The ER functions to modify proteins for subsequent exposure to the extracellular environment. ER stress occurs ...