Publications by authors named "Austin Read"

Background As partial pressure of oxygen (pO) rises with the first breath, the ductus arteriosus (DA) constricts, diverting blood flow to the pulmonary circulation. The DA's O sensor resides within smooth muscle cells. The DA smooth muscle cells' mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) in proportion to oxygen tension, causing vasoconstriction by regulating redox-sensitive ion channels and enzymes.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, may harm lung cells by damaging mitochondria, leading to cell death and impaired oxygen regulation in the body.
  • The study investigated how SARS-CoV-2 and its proteins affect cell processes like apoptosis (cell death), mitochondrial function, and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (the body’s way to control blood flow in response to low oxygen).
  • Findings showed that SARS-CoV-2 disrupts mitochondrial functions and activates pathways that promote cell death, affecting energy production and overall lung health very shortly after infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are essential cofactors most commonly known for their role mediating electron transfer within the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The Fe-S cluster pathways that function within the respiratory complexes are highly conserved between bacteria and the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. Within the electron transport chain, Fe-S clusters play a critical role in transporting electrons through Complexes I, II and III to cytochrome c, before subsequent transfer to molecular oxygen.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The homeostatic oxygen sensing system (HOSS) optimizes systemic oxygen delivery. Specialized tissues utilize a conserved mitochondrial sensor, often involving NDUFS2 in complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, as a site of pO-responsive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS are converted to a diffusible signaling molecule, hydrogen peroxide (HO), by superoxide dismutase (SOD2).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sensing changes in blood oxygen content ([Formula: see text]) is an important physiological role of the kidney; however, the mechanism(s) by which the kidneys sense and respond to changes in [Formula: see text] are incompletely understood. Accurate measurements of kidney tissue oxygen tension ([Formula: see text]) may increase our understanding of renal oxygen-sensing mechanisms and could inform decisions regarding the optimal fluid for intravascular volume resuscitation to maintain renal perfusion. In some clinical settings, starch solution may be nephrotoxic, possibly due to inadequacy of tissue oxygen delivery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF