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Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) show similarities to cancer cells. Due to the growth-suppressive and pro-apoptotic effects of p53 and its inactivation in cancer, we hypothesized that the p53 pathway could be altered in PAH. We therefore explored the involvement of p53 in the monocrotaline (MCT) rat model of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the pathophysiological consequences of p53 inactivation in response to animal treatment with pifithrin-α (PFT, an inhibitor of p53 activity).PH development was assessed by pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and arterial wall thickness. The effect of MCT and PFT on lung p53 pathway expression was evaluated by western blot. Fourteen days of daily PFT treatment (2.2 mg/kg/day), similar to a single injection of MCT (60 mg/kg), induced PH and aggravated MCT-induced PH. In the first week after MCT administration and prior to PH development, p53, p21 and MDM2 protein levels were significantly reduced; whereas PFT administration effectively altered the protein level of p53 targets. Anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of PFT were revealed by TUNEL and MTT assays on cultured human PA-SMCs treated with 50 μM PFT.Pharmacological inactivation of p53 is sufficient to induce PH with a chronic treatment by PFT, an effect related to its anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative properties. The p53 pathway was down-regulated during the first week in the rat MCT model. These in vivo experiments implicate the p53 pathway at the initiation stages of PH pathogenesis.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Authors. This request follows an examination by The Editors of the uncut gels provided by the authors, which led the Editors to conclude that data were compromised in the following western blot images: Figure 3C, Figure 5B and Figure 6B. Duplicated data for the beta actin images were found in Figures 5 and 6. Examination of the raw data used for the western blot quantification also revealed frequent duplicated data. The microscopy data in Figure 5A also has features compatible with compromised data although the raw data were not available to the Editors due to the regrettable death of Dr. Saadia Eddahibi. All of the remaining authors agree with the retraction and apologize to the Editors and the readers of The Journal for difficulties this issue has caused., (Copyright © 2021 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Pulmonary hypertension and heart disease contribute to the high morbidity rate following pneumonectomy (PN). The pathophysiology is still poorly understood. The objective was to investigate the consequences of PN on cardiopulmonary function in rats and to explore in vitro the involved mechanisms., Methods: Sixty Sprague-Dawley male rats randomly underwent either a right PN (PN group) or sham surgery. Ten rats per group were sacrificed on postoperative days 3, 7 and 28. Cardiopulmonary alterations were investigated by echocardiographic, haemodynamic and histological analyses. In vitro, the shear stress was reproduced using a Flexcell Tension™ cyclic stretch on cultured human pulmonary endothelial cells (P-ECs) to investigate the impact on pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PA-SMC) growth. Data are expressed as mean ± SD., Results: Mean pulmonary arterial pressure gradually increased in the PN group to reach 35 ± 7 mmHg on postoperative day 28 vs 18 ± 4 in sham (P = 0.001), likewise the proportion of muscularized distal pulmonary arteries, 83 ± 1% vs 5 ± 1%, respectively (P < 0.001), related to in situ PA-SMC proliferation. The right ventricle area and lateral wall thickness were doubled in the PN group on postoperative day 28. The left ventricle ejection fraction decreased on postoperative days 7 and 28 while the right ventricle function was maintained. In vitro, the human PA-SMC growth was significantly greater when seeded with stretched vs non-stretched P-EC media, highlighting the role of shear stress on the P-EC paracrine function., Conclusions: Right PN led to pulmonary hypertension and proportional right heart remodelling in rats. The shear stress related to high blood flow alters the pulmonary endothelial paracrine control of SMC growth., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Vascular aging is characterized by increase in arterial stiffness and remodeling of the arterial wall with a loss of elastic properties. Silicon is an essential trace element highly present in arteries. It is involved in the constitution and stabilization of elastin fibers. The nutritional supply and bioavailability of silicon are often inadequate. Spirulina (Sp), micro algae have recognized nutritional properties and are able to incorporate minerals in a bioavailable form. We evaluated the effects of nutritional supplementation with silicon-enriched spirulina (SpSi) on arterial system structure and function in hypertension. Experiments were performed on hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats supplemented with SpSi or Sp over a period of three months. Arterial pressure, vascular function and morphometric parameters of thoracic aorta were analyzed. SpSi supplementation lowered arterial pressure in SHR and minimized morphometric alterations induced by hypertension. Aortic wall thickness and elastic fibers fragmentation were partially reversed. Collagen and elastin levels were increased in association with extracellular matrix degradation decrease. Vascular reactivity was improved with better contractile and vasorelaxant responses to various agonists. No changes were observed in SHR supplemented with Sp. The beneficial effects of SpSi supplementation evidenced here, may be attributable to Si enrichment and offer interesting opportunities to prevent cardiovascular risks.

Background: Pulmonary endothelial cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). Increased synthesis and/or the release of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by pulmonary endothelial cells of patients with CTEPH has been recently reported, suggesting a potential role for ICAM-1 in CTEPH., Methods: We studied pulmonary endarterectomy specimens from 172 patients with CTEPH and pulmonary artery specimens from 97 controls undergoing lobectomy for low-stage cancer without metastasis., Results: ICAM-1 was overexpressed in vitro in isolated and cultured endothelial cells from endarterectomy specimens. Endothelial cell growth and apoptosis resistance were significantly higher in CTEPH specimens than in the controls (p < 0.001). Both abnormalities were abolished by pharmacological inhibition of ICAM-1 synthesis or activity. The overexpression of ICAM-1 contributed to the acquisition and maintenance of abnormal EC growth and apoptosis resistance via the phosphorylation of SRC, p38 and ERK1/2 and the overproduction of survivin. Regarding the ICAM-1 E469K polymorphism, the KE heterozygote genotype was significantly more frequent in CTEPH than in the controls, but it was not associated with disease severity among patients with CTEPH., Conclusions: ICAM-1 contributes to maintaining the abnormal endothelial cell phenotype in CTEPH., (Copyright © 2019 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a complex disease associated with vascular remodeling and a proliferative disorder in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) that has been variably described as having neoplastic features. To decode the phenotype of PASMCs in IPAH, PASMCs from explanted lungs of patients with IPAH (IPAH-PASMCs) and from controls (C-PASMCs) were cultured. The IPAH-PASMCs grew faster than the controls; however, both growth curves plateaued, suggesting contact inhibition in IPAH cells. No proliferation was seen without stimulation with exogenous growth factors, suggesting that IPAH cells are incapable of self-sufficient growth. IPAH-PASMCs were more resistant to apoptosis than C-PASMCs, consistent with the increase in the Bcl2/Bax ratio. As cell replication is governed by telomere length, these parameters were assessed jointly. Compared to C-PASMCs, IPAH-PASMCs had longer telomeres, but a limited replicative capacity. Additionally, it was noted that IPAH-PASMCs had a shift in energy production from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. As DNA damage and genomic instability are strongly implicated in IPAH development a comparative genomic hybridization was performed on genomic DNA from PASMCs which showed multiple break-points unaffected by IPAH severity. Activation of DNA damage/repair factors (γH2AX, p53, and GADD45) in response to cisplatin was measured. All proteins showed lower phosphorylation in IPAH samples than in controls, suggesting that the cells were resistant to DNA damage. Despite the cancer-like processes that are associated with end-stage IPAH-PASMCs, we identified no evidence of self-sufficient proliferation in these cells-the defining feature of neoplasia.

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH) is characterized by obstructive hyperproliferation and apoptosis resistance of distal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). T-type Ca 2+ channel blockers have been shown to reduce experimental pulmonary hypertension, although the impact of T-type channel inhibition remains unexplored in PASMCs from iPAH patients. Here we show that T-type channels Cav3.1 and Cav3.2 are present in the lung and PASMCs from iPAH patients and control subjects. The blockade of T-type channels by the specific blocker, TTA-A2, prevents cell cycle progression and PASMCs growth. In iPAH cells, T-type channel signaling fails to activate phosphatase PP2A, leading to an increase in ERK1/2, P38 activation. Moreover, T-type channel signaling is redirected towards the activation of the kinase Akt1, leading to increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein survivin, and a decrease in the pro-apoptotic mediator FoxO3A. Finally, in iPAH cells, Akt1 is no longer able to regulate caspase 9 activation, whereas T-type channel overexpression reverses PP2A defect in iPAH cells but reinforces the deleterious effects of Akt1 activation. Altogether, these data highlight T-type channel signaling as a strong trigger of the pathological phenotype of PASMCs from iPAH patients (hyper-proliferation/cells survival and apoptosis resistance), suggesting that both T-type channels and PP2A may be promising therapeutic targets for pulmonary hypertension., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe and incurable pulmonary vascular disease. One of the primary origins of PAH is pulmonary endothelial dysfunction leading to vasoconstriction, aberrant angiogenesis and smooth muscle cell proliferation, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, thrombosis and inflammation. Our objective was to study the epigenetic variations in pulmonary endothelial cells (PEC) through a specific pattern of DNA methylation. DNA was extracted from cultured PEC from idiopathic PAH ( n = 11), heritable PAH ( n = 10) and controls ( n = 18). DNA methylation was assessed using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 Assay. After normalization, samples and probes were clustered according to their methylation profile. Differential clusters were functionally analyzed using bioinformatics tools. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering allowed the identification of two clusters of probes that discriminates controls and PAH patients. Among 147 differential methylated promoters, 46 promoters coding for proteins or miRNAs were related to lipid metabolism. Top 10 up and down-regulated genes were involved in lipid transport including ABCA1, ABCB4, ADIPOQ, miR-26A, BCL2L11. NextBio meta-analysis suggested a contribution of ABCA1 in PAH. We confirmed ABCA1 mRNA and protein downregulation specifically in PAH PEC by qPCR and immunohistochemistry and made the proof-of-concept in an experimental model of the disease that its targeting may offer novel therapeutic options. In conclusion, DNA methylation analysis identifies a set of genes mainly involved in lipid transport pathway which could be relevant to PAH pathophysiology., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Pr. HUMBERT reports grants and personal fees from Actelion, grants and personal fees from Bayer, grants and personal fees from GSK, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; Pr. Simonneau reports grants and personal fees from Actelion, grants and personal fees from Bayer, grants and personal fees from GSK, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; Pr. Seeger has received honoraria for consultant activities from Bayer and Novartis, and lecture fees from Actelion, Bayer, Pfizer; Dr. Girerd reports personal fees from Actelion, personal fees from Bayer, personal fees from GSK, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; Dr. MONTANI reports grants and personal fees from Actelion, grants and personal fees from Bayer, personal fees from BMS, personal fees from GSK, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work; Other authors have nothing to disclose.

Background: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension results from chronic mechanical obstruction of the pulmonary arteries after acute venous thromboembolism. However, the mechanisms that result in the progression from unresolved thrombus to fibrotic vascular remodeling are unknown. We hypothesized that pulmonary artery endothelial cells contribute to this phenomenon via paracrine growth factor and cytokine signaling., Methods: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cell migration assays, we investigated the circulating growth factors and cytokines of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients as well as the cross talk between pulmonary endothelial cells and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and monocytes from patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in vitro., Results: Culture medium from the pulmonary endothelial cells of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients contained higher levels of growth factors (fibroblast growth factor 2), inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1β, interleukin 6, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1), and cell adhesion molecules (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1). Furthermore, exposure to the culture medium of pulmonary endothelial cells from patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension elicited marked pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell growth and monocyte migration., Conclusions: These findings implicate pulmonary endothelial cells as key regulators of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell and monocyte behavior in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and suggest a potential mechanism for the progression from unresolved thrombus to fibrotic vascular remodeling., (Copyright © 2017 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) show similarities to cancer cells. Due to the growth-suppressive and pro-apoptotic effects of p53 and its inactivation in cancer, we hypothesized that the p53 pathway could be altered in PAH. We therefore explored the involvement of p53 in the monocrotaline (MCT) rat model of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and the pathophysiological consequences of p53 inactivation in response to animal treatment with pifithrin-α (PFT, an inhibitor of p53 activity)., Methods and Results: PH development was assessed by pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and arterial wall thickness. The effect of MCT and PFT on lung p53 pathway expression was evaluated by western blot. Fourteen days of daily PFT treatment (2.2 mg/kg/day), similar to a single injection of MCT (60 mg/kg), induced PH and aggravated MCT-induced PH. In the first week after MCT administration and prior to PH development, p53, p21 and MDM2 protein levels were significantly reduced; whereas PFT administration effectively altered the protein level of p53 targets. Anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative effects of PFT were revealed by TUNEL and MTT assays on cultured human PA-SMCs treated with 50 μM PFT., Conclusions: Pharmacological inactivation of p53 is sufficient to induce PH with a chronic treatment by PFT, an effect related to its anti-apoptotic and pro-proliferative properties. The p53 pathway was down-regulated during the first week in the rat MCT model. These in vivo experiments implicate the p53 pathway at the initiation stages of PH pathogenesis.

Background: Pulmonary microvascular disease (PMD) develops in both occluded and non-occluded territories in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and may cause persistent pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary endarterectomy. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are potential PMD severity biomarkers, but it remains unknown whether they are related to occluded or non-occluded territories. We assessed PMD and ET-1/IL-6 gene expression profiles in occluded and non-occluded territories with and without chronic lung reperfusion in an animal CTEPH model., Methods: Chronic PH was induced in 10 piglets by left pulmonary artery (PA) ligation followed by weekly embolization of right lower lobe arteries with enbucrilate tissue adhesive for 5 weeks. At Week 6, 5 of 10 animals underwent left PA reperfusion. At Week 12, animals with and without reperfusion were compared with sham animals (n = 5). Hemodynamics, lung morphometry and ET-1/IL-6 gene expression profiles were assessed in the left lung (LL, occluded territories) and right upper lobe (RUL, non-occluded territories)., Results: At Week 12, mean PA pressure remained elevated without reperfusion (29.0 ± 2.8 vs 27.0 ± 1.1 mm Hg, p = 0.502), but decreased after reperfusion (30.0 ± 1.5 vs 20.5 ± 1.7 mm Hg, p = 0.013). Distal media thickness in the LL and RUL PAs and systemic vasculature to the LL were significantly lower in the reperfused and sham groups compared with the non-reperfused group. PMD progression was related to ET-1 and IL-6 gene expression in the RUL and to the ET-A/ET-B gene expression ratio in the LL., Conclusions: PMD regressed in occluded and non-occluded territories after lung reperfusion. Changes in ET-1 and IL-6 gene expression were associated with PMD in non-occluded territories., (Copyright © 2015 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), promoting vasoconstriction, smooth muscle proliferation, and inflammation., Objectives: This study sought to test the hypothesis that nebivolol, a β1-antagonist and β2,3-agonist, may improve PAH and reverse the PAH-related phenotype of pulmonary ECs (P-EC)., Methods: We compared the effects of nebivolol with metoprolol, a first-generation β1-selective β-blocker, on human cultured PAH and control P-EC proliferation, vasoactive and proinflammatory factor production, and crosstalk with PA smooth muscle cells. We assessed the effects of both β-blockers in precontracted PA rings. We also compared the effects of both β-blockers in experimental PAH., Results: PAH P-ECs overexpressed the proinflammatory mediators interleukin-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, fibroblast growth factor-2, and the potent vasoconstrictive agent endothelin-1 as compared with control cells. This pathological phenotype was corrected by nebivolol but not metoprolol in a dose-dependent fashion. We confirmed that PAH P-EC proliferate more than control cells and stimulate more PA smooth muscle cell mitosis, a growth abnormality that was normalized by nebivolol but not by metoprolol. Nebivolol but not metoprolol induced endothelium-dependent and nitric oxide-dependent relaxation of PA. Nebivolol was more potent than metoprolol in improving cardiac function, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and inflammation of rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension., Conclusions: Nebivolol could be a promising option for the management of PAH, improving endothelial dysfunction, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and right heart function. Until clinical studies are undertaken, however, routine use of β-blockers in PAH cannot be recommended., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mutations affecting transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily receptors, activin receptor-like kinase (ALK)-1, and endoglin (ENG) occur in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). To determine whether the TGF-β/ALK1/ENG pathway was involved in PAH, we investigated pulmonary TGF-β, ALK1, ALK5, and ENG expressions in human lung tissue and cultured pulmonary-artery smooth-muscle-cells (PA-SMCs) and pulmonary endothelial cells (PECs) from 14 patients with idiopathic PAH (iPAH) and 15 controls. Seeing that ENG was highly expressed in PEC, we assessed the effects of TGF-β on Smad1/5/8 and Smad2/3 activation and on growth factor production by the cells. Finally, we studied the consequence of ENG deficiency on the chronic hypoxic-PH development by measuring right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure (RVSP), RV hypertrophy, and pulmonary arteriolar remodeling in ENG-deficient (Eng+/-) and wild-type (Eng+/+) mice. We also evaluated the pulmonary blood vessel density, macrophage infiltration, and cytokine expression in the lungs of the animals. Compared to controls, iPAH patients had higher serum and pulmonary TGF-β levels and increased ALK1 and ENG expressions in lung tissue, predominantly in PECs. Incubation of the cells with TGF-β led to Smad1/5/8 phosphorylation and to a production of FGF2, PDGFb and endothelin-inducing PA-SMC growth. Endoglin deficiency protected mice from hypoxic PH. As compared to wild-type, Eng+/- mice had a lower pulmonary vessel density, and no change in macrophage infiltration after exposure to chronic hypoxia despite the higher pulmonary expressions of interleukin-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The TGF-β/ALK1/ENG signaling pathway plays a key role in iPAH and experimental hypoxic PH via a direct effect on PECs leading to production of growth factors and inflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of PAH.

Background: Lung injury (LI) due to gastric-acid aspiration is associated with poor posttransplantation outcomes. We investigated the effects of ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) reconditioning and surfactant administration on LI due to gastric-acid aspiration., Methods: Thirty piglets were allocated at random to five groups: the lungs were studied 24 hr after gastric juice-induced LI of the left lower lobe (LLL), LI followed by EVLP (4 hr), or LI followed by LLL surfactant lavage immediately before EVLP; sham animals were studied 24 hr after saline infusion alone or followed by EVLP. Gross anatomy, hemodynamics, and aerodynamics were evaluated; neutrophil and bacterial counts were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and blood. LLLs were evaluated based on a semi-quantitative histologic score, apoptotic cell death (TUNEL), and inflammatory cytokine levels., Results: The sham and sham-EVLP groups were not significantly different. Compared with sham, LI animals had irreversible atelectasis, higher lung infection rates (P<0.0001) and BAL neutrophil percentages (P<0.0001), lower PaO2 (P=0.0006), higher IL-1 (P=0.022) and IL-8 (P=0.006), higher apoptotic cell percentages (P=0.007), and worse histologic severity scores (P<0.0001). EVLP alone did not improve these findings. Adding surfactant before EVLP returned PaO2, pulmonary vascular resistance, and apoptotic-cell percentage to sham-EVLP values but only partially improved the histologic severity score., Conclusion: Local surfactant infusion immediately before EVLP improved the function of donor lungs injured by gastric juice aspiration. This strategy may hold promise for decreasing the shortage of donor lungs.

Background: Ventricular-arterial coupling is a measure of the relationship between ventricular contractility and afterload. We sought to determine the relationship between ventricular-arterial coupling and right ventricular (RV) remodeling in a novel porcine model of progressive pulmonary hypertension (PH)., Methods: Chronic PH was induced in pigs by ligation of the left pulmonary artery (PA) followed by 5 weekly injections of cyanoacrylate to progressively obstruct the right lower lobe arteries (PH group, n = 10). At 6 weeks, 5 PH animals underwent reperfusion of the left lung through conduit anastomosis to decrease RV afterload, whereas 5 other animals received no treatment. Five sham-operated piglets were used as controls. RV function was assessed using echocardiography and conductance catheterization. RV gene expression of beta-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) were quantified by polymerase chain reaction., Results: At 6 weeks, compared with controls, the PH group had higher mean PA pressure (32 ± 6 vs 14 ± 2 mm Hg, p < 0.01). The increase in RV elastance was insufficient to compensate for the increase in pulmonary arterial elastance in the PH group and altered ventricular-arterial coupling occurred (0.65 ± 0.16 vs 1.28 ± 0.14, p < 0.01). The degree of ventricular-arterial uncoupling was related to RV enlargement and systolic dysfunction. Ventricular-arterial uncoupling and increased RV mass index were associated with up-regulation of β-MHC and BNP expression., Conclusions: Ventricular-arterial coupling is closely associated with ventricular remodeling and systolic function as well as contractile and BNP gene expression. Dynamic changes in myosin expression may determine RV work efficiency in PH., (© 2013 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Published by International Society for the Heart and Lung Transplantation All rights reserved.)

None of the animal models have been able to reproduce all aspects of CTEPH because of the rapid resolution of the thrombi in the pulmonary vasculature. The aim of this study was to develop an easily reproducible large-animal model of chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH) related to the development of a postobstructive and overflow vasculopathy. Chronic PH was induced in 5 piglets by ligation of the left pulmonary artery (PA) through a midline sternotomy followed by weekly transcatheter embolization of the right lower-lobe arteries. Sham-operated piglets (n = 5) served as controls. Hemodynamics, RV function, lung morphometry, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) pathway gene expression (ET-1 and its receptors ETA and ETB) were assessed after 5 weeks in the obstructed (left lung and right lower lobe) and unobstructed (right upper lobe) territories. All animals developed chronic PH within 5 weeks. Compared to controls, chronic-PH animals had higher mean PA pressure (28.5 ± 1.7 vs. 11.6 ± 1.8 mmHg, P = 0.0001) and total pulmonary resistance (784 ± 160 vs. 378 ± 51 dyn s(-1) cm(-5), P = 0.05). Echocardiography showed RV enlargement, RV wall thickening (56 ± 5 vs. 30 ± 4 mm, P = 0.0003), decreased tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (11.3 ± 0.9 vs. 14.4 ± 0.4 mm, P = 0.01), and paradoxical septal motion. In obstructed territories, morphometry demonstrated increases in the number of bronchial arteries per bronchus (8.7 ± 0.9 vs. 2 ± 0.17, P < 0.0001) and in distal PA media thickness (60% ± 2.8% vs. 29% ± 0.9%, P < 0.0001), consistent with postobstructive vasculopathy. Distal PA media thickness was increased in unobstructed territories (70% ± 2.4% vs. 29% ± 0.9%, P < 0.0001). ET-1 was overexpressed in unobstructed territories, compared to controls and obstructed territories. In conclusion, the large-animal model described here is reproducible and led to the development of PH in a relatively short time frame.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disorder characterized by an increase in pulmonary artery pressure and structural changes in the pulmonary vasculature. Several observations indicate that growth factors play a key role in PH by modulating pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PA-SMC) function. In rats, established monocrotaline-induced PH (MCT-PH) can be reversed by blocking platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGF-R), epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R), or fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGF-R). All these receptors belong to the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family., Methods and Results: We evaluated whether RTK blockade by the nonspecific growth factor inhibitor, suramin, reversed advanced MCT-PH in rats via its effects on growth-factor signaling pathways. We found that suramin inhibited RTK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in cultured human PA-SMCs. Suramin inhibited PA-SMC proliferation induced by serum, PDGF, FGF2, or EGF in vitro and ex vivo. Treatment with suramin from day 1 to day 21 after monocrotaline injection attenuated PH development, as shown by lower values for pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and distal vessel muscularization on day 21 compared to control rats. Treatment with suramin from day 21 to day 42 after monocrotaline injection reversed established PH, thereby normalizing the pulmonary artery pressure values and vessel structure. Suramin treatment suppressed PA-SMC proliferation and attenuated both the inflammatory response and the deposition of collagen., Conclusions: RTK blockade by suramin can prevent MCT-PH and reverse established MCT-PH in rats. This study suggests that an anti-RTK strategy that targets multiple RTKs could be useful in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

Rationale: Patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH) often have a low cardiac output. To compensate, neurohormonal systems such as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and the sympathetic nervous system are up-regulated, but this may have long-term negative effects on the progression of iPAH., Objectives: Assess systemic and pulmonary RAAS activity in patients with iPAH and determine the efficacy of chronic RAAS inhibition in experimental PAH., Methods: We collected 79 blood samples from 58 patients with iPAH in the VU University Medical Center Amsterdam (between 2004 and 2010) to determine systemic RAAS activity., Measurements and Main Results: We observed increased levels of renin, angiotensin (Ang)I, and AngII, which were associated with disease progression (P < 0.05) and mortality (P < 0.05). To determine pulmonary RAAS activity, lung specimens were obtained from patients with iPAH (during lung transplantation, n = 13) and control subjects (during lobectomy or pneumonectomy for cancer, n = 14). Local RAAS activity in pulmonary arteries of patients with iPAH was increased, demonstrated by elevated angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in pulmonary endothelial cells and increased AngII type 1 (AT(1)) receptor expression and signaling. In addition, local RAAS up-regulation was associated with increased pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation via enhanced AT(1) receptor signaling in patients with iPAH compared with control subjects. Finally, to determine the therapeutic potential of RAAS activity, we assessed the chronic effects of an AT(1) receptor antagonist (losartan) in the monocrotaline PAH rat model (60 mg/kg). Losartan delayed disease progression, decreased right ventricular afterload and pulmonary vascular remodeling, and restored right ventricular-arterial coupling in rats with PAH., Conclusions: Systemic and pulmonary RAAS activities are increased in patients with iPAH and are associated with increased pulmonary vascular remodeling. Chronic inhibition of RAAS by losartan is beneficial in experimental PAH.

Rationale: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and fatal disease characterized by pulmonary arterial muscularization due to excessive pulmonary vascular cell proliferation and migration, a phenotype dependent upon growth factors and activation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). p130(Cas) is an adaptor protein involved in several cellular signaling pathways that control cell migration, proliferation, and survival., Objectives: We hypothesized that in experimental and human PAH p130(Cas) signaling is overactivated, thereby facilitating the intracellular transmission of signal induced by fibroblast growth factor (FGF)2, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)., Measurements and Main Results: In patients with PAH, levels of p130(Cas) protein and/or activity are higher in the serum, in the walls of distal pulmonary arteries, in cultured smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs), and in pulmonary endothelial cells (P-ECs) than in control subjects. These abnormalities in the p130(Cas) signaling were also found in the chronically hypoxic mice and monocrotaline-injected rats as models of human PAH. We obtained evidence for the convergence and amplification of the growth-stimulating effect of the EGF-, FGF2-, and PDGF-signaling pathways via the p130(Cas) signaling pathway. We found that daily treatment with the EGF-R inhibitor gefitinib, the FGF-R inhibitor dovitinib, and the PDGF-R inhibitor imatinib started 2 weeks after a subcutaneous monocrotaline injection substantially attenuated the abnormal increase in p130(Cas) and ERK1/2 activation and regressed established pulmonary hypertension., Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that p130(Cas) signaling plays a critical role in experimental and idiopathic PAH by modulating pulmonary vascular cell migration and proliferation and by acting as an amplifier of RTK downstream signals., Competing Interests: None.

Immune mechanisms and autoimmunity seem to play a significant role in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) pathogenesis and/or progression, but the pathophysiology is still unclear. Recent evidence has demonstrated a detrimental involvement of leptin in promoting various autoimmune diseases by controlling regulatory T-lymphocytes. Despite this knowledge, the role of leptin in IPAH is currently unknown. We hypothesised that leptin, synthesised by dysfunctional pulmonary endothelium, might play a role in the immunopathogenesis of IPAH by regulating circulating regulatory T-lymphocytes function. First, we collected serum and regulatory T-lymphocytes from controls, and IPAH and scleroderma-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) patients; secondly, we recovered tissue samples and cultured endothelial cells after either surgery or transplantation in controls and IPAH patients, respectively. Our findings indicate that serum leptin was higher in IPAH and SSc-PAH patients than controls. Circulating regulatory T-lymphocyte numbers were comparable in all groups, and the percentage of those expressing leptin receptor was higher in IPAH and SSc-PAH compared with controls, whereas their function was reduced in IPAH and SSc-PAH patients compared with controls, in a leptin-dependent manner. Furthermore, endothelial cells from IPAH patients synthesised more leptin than controls. Our data suggest that endothelial-derived leptin may play a role in the immunopathogenesis of IPAH.

Objective: The study objective was to determine whether the vasculopathy seen in nonobstructed lung regions in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is induced by the local blood flow increase or by factors released by the ischemic lung., Methods: Three groups of 10 piglets were studied 5 weeks after right pulmonary artery ligation, right pneumonectomy, or right pulmonary artery dissection (sham). Pulmonary vascular resistance, pulmonary arterial vasoreactivity, and morphometry were measured, and gene expressions of factors involved in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation were quantified., Results: Left lung blood flow was similarly increased after right pneumonectomy and right pulmonary artery ligation. Compared with right pneumonectomy, right pulmonary artery ligation resulted in left lung vasculopathy with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (P = .0009), medial hypertrophy of the distal pulmonary artery (P < .0001), and decreases in maximal relaxation to acetylcholine (P = .013) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression (P = .041). These values were similar after sham and right pneumonectomy. In the left lung, right pulmonary artery ligation increased the gene expressions for insulin-like growth factor (P = .034), platelet-derived growth factor (P = .0006), and vascular endothelial growth factor (P = .0105) compared with right pneumonectomy and sham. Whereas endothelin-1 gene expression was not affected, expressions of endothelin-1 receptors A and B were downregulated after right pneumonectomy (P = .048 and P = .039, respectively) and right pulmonary artery ligation (P = .033 and P = .028, respectively)., Conclusions: Pulmonary vasculopathy was absent in the remaining lung 5 weeks after right pneumonectomy but developed in the nonobstructed lung regions 5 weeks after right pulmonary artery ligation, suggesting that factors released by the ischemic lung induced vascular remodeling in the contralateral lung. This endocrine process may involve the release of factors involved in vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation., (Copyright © 2012 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pulmonary vascular remodeling is key to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We recently reported that fibroblast growth factor (FGF)2 is markedly overproduced by pulmonary endothelial cells (P-ECs) in IPAH and contributes significantly to smooth muscle hyperplasia and disease progression. Excessive FGF2 expression in malignancy exerts pathologic effects on tumor cells by paracrine and autocrine mechanisms.We hypothesized that FGF2 overproduction contributes in an autocrine manner to the abnormal phenotype of P-ECs, characteristic of IPAH. In distal pulmonary arteries (PAs) of patients with IPAH, we found increased numbers of proliferating ECs and decreased numbers of apoptotic ECs, accompanied with stronger immunoreactivity for the antiapoptotic molecules, B-cell lymphoma (BCL)2, and BCL extra long (BCL-xL) compared with PAs from control patients. These in situ observations were replicated in vitro, with cultured P-ECs from patients IPAH exhibiting increased proliferation and diminished sensitivity to apoptotic induction with marked increases in the antiapoptotic factors BCL2 and BCL-xL and levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated (ERK)1/2 compared with control P-ECs. IPAH P-ECs also exhibited increased FGF2 expression and an accentuated proliferative and survival response to conditioned P-EC media or exogenous FGF2 treatment. Decreasing FGF2 signaling by RNA interference normalized sensitivity to apoptosis and proliferative potential in the IPAH P-ECs. Our findings suggest that excessive autocrine release of endothelial-derived FGF2 in IPAH contributes to the acquisition and maintenance of an abnormal EC phenotype, enhancing proliferation through constitutive activation of ERK1/2 and decreasing apoptosis by increasing BCL2 and BCL-xL.

To evaluate the vasoconstrictor component of PH in CHF by investigating the hemodynamic response to inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and to determine whether this response was influenced by the phosphodiesterase 5 gene (PDE5) G(1142)T polymorphism. CHF patients underwent right heart catheterization at rest and after 20 ppm of iNO and plasma cGMP and PDE5 G(1142)T polymorphism determinations. Of the 72 included CHF patients (mean age, 53±1 years; mean left ventricular ejection fraction, 29±1%; and mean pulmonary artery pressure, 25.5±1.3 mmHg), 54% had ischemic heart disease. Proportions of patients with the TT, GT, and GG genotypes were 39%, 42% and 19% respectively. Baseline hemodynamic characteristics were not significantly different across PDE5 genotype groups, although pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) tended to be lower in the TT group (P=0.09). Baseline plasma cGMP levels were significantly lower in the TT than in the GG and GT patients. With iNO, PVR diminished in TT (-33%) but not GG (-1.6%) or GT (0%) patients (P=0.002); and PCWP increased more in TT than in GT (P<0.05) or GG (P<0.003) patients. The PDE5 G(-1142) polymorphism is therefore a major contributor to the iNO-induced PVR decrease in CHF.

Multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4, also known as Abcc4) regulates intracellular levels of cAMP and cGMP in arterial SMCs. Here, we report our studies of the role of MRP4 in the development and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe vascular disease characterized by chronically elevated pulmonary artery pressure and accompanied by remodeling of the small pulmonary arteries as a prelude to right heart failure and premature death. MRP4 expression was increased in pulmonary arteries from patients with idiopathic PAH as well as in WT mice exposed to hypoxic conditions. Consistent with a pathogenic role for MRP4 in PAH, WT mice exposed to hypoxia for 3 weeks showed reversal of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH) following oral administration of the MRP4 inhibitor MK571, and Mrp4-/- mice were protected from hypoxic PH. Inhibition of MRP4 in vitro was accompanied by increased intracellular cAMP and cGMP levels and PKA and PKG activities, implicating cyclic nucleotide-related signaling pathways in the mechanism underlying the protective effects of MRP4 inhibition. Our data suggest that MRP4 could represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention in PAH.

Objectives: In patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, high flow in unobstructed lung regions may induce small-vessel damage responsible for persistent pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. In piglets, closure of an experimental aortopulmonary shunt reverses the flow-induced vascular lesions and diminishes the elevated levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression for endothelin-1 and endothelin receptor A (ETA). We wanted to study the effect of the ETA antagonist TBC 3711 on reversal of flow-induced pulmonary vascular lesions., Methods: Twenty piglets were studied. In 15 piglets, pulmonary vasculopathy was induced by creating an aortopulmonary shunt. After 5 weeks of shunting, some animals were studied (n = 5); others underwent shunt closure for 1 week with (n = 5) or without (n = 5) TBC3711 treatment. Anti-ETA treatment started 1 week before and ended 1 week after the shunt closure. The controls were sham-operated animals (n = 5)., Results: High blood flow led to medial hypertrophy of the distal pulmonary arteries (54.9% +/- 1.3% vs 35.3% +/- 0.9%; P < .0001) by stimulating smooth muscle cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and increased the expression of endothelin-1, ETA or endothelin receptor type A or endothelin receptor A, angiopoietin 1, and Tie2 (real-time polymerase chain reaction). One week after shunt closure, gene expression levels were normal and smooth muscle cells showed increased apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) without proliferation. However, pulmonary artery wall thickness returned to control values only in the group given TBC3711 (33.2% +/- 8% with and 50.3% +/- 1.3% without; P < .05)., Conclusions: Anti-ETA therapy accelerated the reversal of flow-induced pulmonary arterial disease after flow correction. In patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and severe distal pulmonary vasculopathy, anti-ETA agents may prove useful for preventing persistent pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy., (2010 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Voltage-gated potassium (Kv)1.5 is decreased in pulmonary arteries (PAs) of patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and in experimental models including mice with SM22alpha-targeted overexpression of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). The mechanisms underlying these abnormalities, however, remain unknown. Dichloroacetate (DCA) inhibits chronic hypoxia- or monocrotaline-induced PAH by inhibiting nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)c2 and increasing Kv1.5. Therefore, we hypothesized that DCA could regress established PAH in SM22-5-HTT+ mice. We evaluated pulmonary hemodynamics, vascular remodeling, NFATc2, and Kv1.5 protein in 20-wk-old SM22-5-HTT+ or wild-type mice treated for 1, 7, and 21 d with DCA, cyclosporine-A (NFAT inhibitor), or vehicle. DCA partially reversed PAH in SM22-5-HTT+ mice by decreasing proliferation and increasing apoptosis in muscularized PAs. Furthermore, serotonin (10(-8)-10(-6) M) dose-dependently increased PA-smooth muscle cell (PA-SMC) proliferation in culture (EC(50)=0.97 x 10(-7) M) and DCA (5 x 10(-4) M) vs. PBS markedly reduced the growth of PA-SMC from IPAH and control patients treated with the highest dose of serotonin by 50 and 30%, respectively. Finally, although serotonin induces NFATc2 activation in PA-SMCs, inhibition of NFATc2 alone with cyclosporine-A was not sufficient for reversing PAH in this model. Our results support the possibility that DCA may be an interesting agent for investigation in patients with PAH.

Mutations in the gene encoding bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor type 2 (BMPR-2) have been reported in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but their functional relevance remains incompletely understood. BMP receptor expression was evaluated in human lungs and in cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) isolated from 19 idiopathic PAH patients and nine heritable PAH patients with demonstrated BMPR-2 mutations. BMP4-treated PASMCs were assessed for Smad and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling associated with mitosis and apoptosis. Lung tissue and PASMCs from heritable PAH patients presented with decreased BMPR-2 expression and variable increases in BMPR-1A and BMPR-1B expression, while a less important decreased BMPR-2 expression was observed in PASMCs from idiopathic PAH patients. Heritable PAH PASMCs showed no increased phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 in the presence of BMP4, which actually activated the p38MAPK pathway. Individual responses varied from one mutation to another. PASMCs from PAH patients presented with an in vitro proliferative pattern, which could be inhibited by BMP4 in idiopathic PAH but not in heritable PAH. PASMCs from idiopathic PAH and more so from heritable PAH presented an inhibition of BMP4-induced apoptosis. Most heterogeneous BMPR-2 mutations are associated with defective Smad signalling compensated for by an activation of p38MAPK signalling, accounting for PASMC proliferation and deficient apoptosis.

Objectives: To investigate the pathophysiology of postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction (pPED) in a rat model of bilateral cavernous nerve ablation (BCNA) and to assess the effects of local bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) injection on erectile dysfunction (ED) and cavernosal cellular abnormalities caused by BCNA., Design, Setting, and Participants: This was an experimental study in Fisher rats with BCNA., Intervention: Intervention included BNCA, electrical stimulation of the pelvic ganglion, and local BMMNC injection., Measurements: Erectile responses to electric pelvic ganglion stimulation were studied. Cavernous tissue was examined to determine the cell types undergoing apoptosis and to detect changes in protein and gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR) and Western blotting. The effects of local BMMNC injection on these parameters were studied., Results and Limitations: Diffuse apoptosis was noted in the connective tissue mesenchymal cells and vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Compared with sham-operated controls, nNOS and eNOS levels were decreased after 3 wk and were normal (eNOS) or increased (nNOS) after 5 wk, suggesting spontaneous nerve regeneration. Despite nNOS recovery, erectile responses to electrical stimulation remained impaired after 5 wk, when mesenchymal cell apoptosis was the main persistent biologic abnormality. BMMNC injection decreased apoptotic cell numbers, accelerated the normalisation of nNOS and eNOS, and partially restored erectile responses at week 5., Conclusions: Massive cell apoptosis may play a key role in the pathophysiology of pPED. In this animal model, apoptosis persisted despite spontaneous nerve regeneration, suggesting that the course of BCNA-induced cell dysfunction was independent of reinnervation. BMMNC improved erectile function by inhibiting apoptosis and may hold promise for repairing penile cell damage caused by radical prostatectomy (RP).

Common bile duct ligation (CBDL) induces biliary cirrhosis and pulmonary vasodilatation. We tested whether CBDL ameliorates monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats. Five groups of rats were studied: controls; rats dosed with MCT (60 mg.kg(-1) subcutaneously); CBDL; rats dosed with MCT followed by CBDL on day 7; and rats dosed with MCT followed by CBDL (day 7) and L-NAME therapy between days 24 and 28. 28-day survival was 26% in the MCT group and 72% in the MCT+CBDL group. Pulmonary vascular resistance measured on days 21 and 28 increased in the MCT and MCT+CBDL+L-NAME groups, but returned to normal in the MCT+CBDL group on day 28. Pulmonary artery (PA) medial hypertrophy persisted in MCT+CBDL rats. PA inflammation increased in MCT+CBDL rats, with accumulation of both intra- and perivascular macrophages. Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels decreased in the MCT group and increased in the MCT+CBDL group, which showed upregulation of inducible NO synthase and normal endothelial NO synthase. Blood endothelin (ET)-1 increased in CBDL, MCT, and MCT+CBDL rats. Levels of ET(B) receptors increased and ET(A) receptors decreased in the MCT+CBDL group, whereas the opposite changes occurred in the MCT group. Biliary cirrhosis induces pulmonary vasodilation that ameliorates MCT-induced PH and improves survival. Upregulation of inducible NO synthase and ET(B) receptor and downregulation of ET(A) receptor may be involved.

Background: Pulmonary artery remodeling triggered by alveolar hypoxia is considered the main mechanism of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in COPD patients. We hypothesized that the risk for PH in COPD is increased by an elevation in the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and IL-1beta, as well as by specific genetic polymorphisms of these cytokines., Methods: We assessed cytokine plasma levels and the polymorphisms G(-174)C IL-6, C(-511)T IL-1beta, and A(-2518)G MCP-1 in 148 COPD patients (recruited at two centers) with right heart catheterization data and 180 control subjects including smokers and nonsmokers. Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) were cultured for IL-6 messenger RNA assays under normoxic and hypoxic conditions., Results: Patients with PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure [PAP], >or= 25 mm Hg) had lower Pao(2) and higher plasma IL-6 values than those without PH; there were no differences in terms of pulmonary function test results or CT scan emphysema scores. Plasma IL-6 correlated with mean PAP (r = 0.39; p < 0.001) and was included in a multiple stepwise regression analysis, with mean PAP as the dependent variable. In patients with the IL-6 GG genotype, the mean PAP value was significantly higher and PH was more common than in CG or CC patients (adjusted odds ratio, 4.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.96 to 9.54). Exposure to 4 h of hypoxia led to an about twofold increase in IL-6 messenger RNA in cultured human PA-SMCs., Conclusions: Inflammation, most likely involving IL-6, may contribute substantially to PH complicating COPD.

Phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) is involved in the hydrolysis of cAMP in pulmonary vascular smooth muscle (PA-SMC) and immune inflammatory cells. Given that intracellular cAMP accumulation inhibits contraction and growth of PA-SMCs as well as inflammatory cell functions, we investigated the effects of the PDE4 inhibitor 3-cyclopropylmethoxy-4-difluoromethoxy-N-[3,5-di-chloropyrid-4-yl]-benzamide (roflumilast), on pulmonary hypertension (PH) in rats. Treatment with roflumilast (0.5 or 1.5 mg x kg(-1) day(-1)) from day 1 to day 21 after monocrotaline (MCT) injection (60 mg x kg(-1) s.c.) attenuated PH development: pulmonary artery pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and muscularization of distal vessels on day 21 were decreased compared to control MCT-treated rats. Roflumilast (1.5 mg x kg(-1) day(-1)) also reduced the increases in interleukin-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 mRNAs observed in lung tissue on day 21 without affecting the rise in interleukin-1beta mRNA on days 1 and 21. Roflumilast (1.5 mg x kg(-1) day(-1)) from day 21 to day 42 after MCT reversed established PH, almost normalizing pulmonary artery pressure and structure, and suppressing proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells in pulmonary vascular walls. Treatment with roflumilast similarly attenuated PH development due to chronic hypoxia. Treatment of human PA-SMCs with roflumilast N-oxide, the active metabolite of roflumilast, at concentrations up to 10(-6) M, potentiated PA-SMC growth inhibition induced by prostacyclin (10(-6) M) or interleukin-1beta (10 ng x ml(-1)) but was inactive on its own. In conclusion, the PDE4 inhibitor roflumilast significantly attenuates pulmonary vascular remodeling and hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia or MCT and reverses established PH after MCT administration.

Inflammatory processes are prominent in various types of human and experimental pulmonary hypertension (PH) and are increasingly recognized as major pathogenic components of pulmonary vascular remodeling. Macrophages, T and B lymphocytes, and dendritic cells are present in the vascular lesions of PH, whether in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or PAH related to more classical forms of inflammatory syndromes such as connective tissue diseases, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or other viral etiologies. Similarly, the presence of circulating chemokines and cytokines, viral protein components (e.g., HIV-1 Nef), and increased expression of growth (such as vascular endothelial growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor) and transcriptional (e.g., nuclear factor of activated T cells or NFAT) factors in these patients are thought to contribute directly to further recruitment of inflammatory cells and proliferation of smooth muscle and endothelial cells. Other processes, such as mitochondrial and ion channel dysregulation, seem to convey a state of cellular resistance to apoptosis; this has recently emerged as a necessary event in the pathogenesis of pulmonary vascular remodeling. Thus, the recognition of complex inflammatory disturbances in the vascular remodeling process offers potential specific targets for therapy and has recently led to clinical trials investigating, for example, the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This paper provides an overview of specific inflammatory pathways involving cells, chemokines and cytokines, cellular dysfunctions, growth factors, and viral proteins, highlighting their potential role in pulmonary vascular remodeling and the possibility of future targeted therapy.

Rationale: The complex and multifactorial pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) involves constriction, remodeling, and in situ thrombosis of pulmonary vessels. Both serotonin (5-HT) and Rho kinase signaling may contribute to these alterations., Objectives: To investigate possible links between the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) and RhoA/Rho kinase pathways, as well as their involvement in the progression of human and experimental PH., Methods: Biochemical and functional analyses of lungs, platelets, and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) from patients with idiopathic PH (iPH) and 5-HTT overexpressing mice., Measurements and Main Results: Lungs, platelets, and PA-SMCs from patients with iPH were characterized by marked elevation in RhoA and Rho kinase activities and a strong increase in 5-HT binding to RhoA indicating RhoA serotonylation. The 5-HTT inhibitor fluoxetine and the type 2 transglutaminase inhibitor monodansylcadaverin prevented 5-HT-induced RhoA serotonylation and RhoA/Rho kinase activation, as well as 5-HT-induced proliferation of PA-SMCs from iPH patients that was also inhibited by the Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil. Increased Rho kinase activity, RhoA activation, and RhoA serotonylation were also observed in lungs from SM22-5-HTT(+)mice, which overexpress 5-HTT in smooth muscle and spontaneously develop PH. Treatment of SM22-5-HTT(+) mice with either fasudil or fluoxetine limited PH progression and RhoA/Rho kinase activation., Conclusions: RhoA and Rho kinase activities are increased in iPH, in association with enhanced RhoA serotonylation. Direct involvement of the 5-HTT/RhoA/Rho kinase signaling pathway in 5-HT-mediated PA-SMC proliferation and platelet activation during PH progression identify RhoA/Rho kinase signaling as a promising target for new treatments against PH.

Objectives: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is due to partial obstruction of the pulmonary arterial bed and may resolve after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Persistent pulmonary hypertension, the main complication after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy, may reflect vessel alterations induced by high flow in unobstructed lung territories. The aim of this study was to determine whether correcting high flow led to reversal of the vasculopathy in piglets., Methods: The effects of high pulmonary blood flow were investigated 5 weeks after creation of an aortopulmonary shunt (n = 10), and reversibility of vessel disease was evaluated at 1 week (n = 10) and 5 weeks after shunt closure (n = 10), compared to sham-operated animals (n = 10). Hemodynamic variables, pulmonary artery reactivity, and morphometry were recorded. We also investigated the endothelin, angiopoietin, and nitric oxide synthase pathways., Results: High flow increased medial thickness in distal pulmonary arteries (55.6% +/- 1.2% vs 35.9% +/- 0.8%; P < .0001) owing to an increase of smooth muscle cell proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling). The endothelium-dependent relaxation was altered (P < .05). This phenomenon was associated to an overexpression of endothelin-1, endothelin-A, angiopoietin 1, angiopoietin 2, and Tie-2 (P < .05). After 1 week of shunt closure, all overexpressed genes returned to control values, the proliferation of smooth muscle cells stopped, and smooth muscle cell apoptosis increased (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling), preceding the normalization of the wall thickness hypertrophy and the pulmonary artery vasoreactivity observed at 5 weeks after shunt closure., Conclusion: These results demonstrate that endothelin-1 and angiopoietin pathways are involved in vasculopathy development and may be important therapeutic targets for preventing persistent pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.