1
|
Murugesan P, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Chenggong Zong N, Youn JY, Chen W, Wang C, Loscalzo J, Cai H. Reversal of Pulmonary Hypertension in a Human-Like Model: Therapeutic Targeting of Endothelial DHFR. Circ Res 2024; 134:351-370. [PMID: 38299369 PMCID: PMC10880947 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disorder characterized by remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure, resulting in right heart failure. METHODS Here, we show that direct targeting of the endothelium to uncouple eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) with DAHP (2,4-diamino 6-hydroxypyrimidine; an inhibitor of GTP cyclohydrolase 1, the rate-limiting synthetic enzyme for the critical eNOS cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin) induces human-like, time-dependent progression of PH phenotypes in mice. RESULTS Critical phenotypic features include progressive elevation in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular systolic blood pressure, and right ventricle (RV)/left ventricle plus septum (LV+S) weight ratio; extensive vascular remodeling of pulmonary arterioles with increased medial thickness/perivascular collagen deposition and increased expression of PCNA (proliferative cell nuclear antigen) and alpha-actin; markedly increased total and mitochondrial superoxide production, substantially reduced tetrahydrobiopterin and nitric oxide bioavailabilities; and formation of an array of human-like vascular lesions. Intriguingly, novel in-house generated endothelial-specific dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) transgenic mice (tg-EC-DHFR) were completely protected from the pathophysiological and molecular features of PH upon DAHP treatment or hypoxia exposure. Furthermore, DHFR overexpression with a pCMV-DHFR plasmid transfection in mice after initiation of DAHP treatment completely reversed PH phenotypes. DHFR knockout mice spontaneously developed PH at baseline and had no additional deterioration in response to hypoxia, indicating an intrinsic role of DHFR deficiency in causing PH. RNA-sequencing experiments indicated great similarity in gene regulation profiles between the DAHP model and human patients with PH. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results establish a novel human-like murine model of PH that has long been lacking in the field, which can be broadly used for future mechanistic and translational studies. These data also indicate that targeting endothelial DHFR deficiency represents a novel and robust therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priya Murugesan
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (P.M., Y.Z., Y.H., N.C.Z., J.Y.Y., H.C.)
| | - Yixuan Zhang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (P.M., Y.Z., Y.H., N.C.Z., J.Y.Y., H.C.)
| | - Yuanli Huang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (P.M., Y.Z., Y.H., N.C.Z., J.Y.Y., H.C.)
| | - Nobel Chenggong Zong
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (P.M., Y.Z., Y.H., N.C.Z., J.Y.Y., H.C.)
| | - Ji Youn Youn
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (P.M., Y.Z., Y.H., N.C.Z., J.Y.Y., H.C.)
| | - Wenhui Chen
- Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing (W.C., C.W.)
| | - Chen Wang
- Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Department of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing (W.C., C.W.)
| | - Joseph Loscalzo
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.L.)
| | - Hua Cai
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (P.M., Y.Z., Y.H., N.C.Z., J.Y.Y., H.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Virgincar RS, Nouls JC, Wang Z, Degan S, Qi Y, Xiong X, Rajagopal S, Driehuys B. Quantitative 129Xe MRI detects early impairment of gas-exchange in a rat model of pulmonary hypertension. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7385. [PMID: 32355256 PMCID: PMC7193602 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-64361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperpolarized 129Xe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is capable of regional mapping of pulmonary gas-exchange and has found application in a wide range of pulmonary disorders in humans and animal model analogs. This study is the first application of 129Xe MRI to the monocrotaline rat model of pulmonary hypertension. Such models of preclinical pulmonary hypertension, a disease of the pulmonary vasculature that results in right heart failure and death, are usually assessed with invasive procedures such as right heart catheterization and histopathology. The work here adapted from protocols from clinical 129Xe MRI to enable preclinical imaging of rat models of pulmonary hypertension on a Bruker 7 T scanner. 129Xe spectroscopy and gas-exchange imaging showed reduced 129Xe uptake by red blood cells early in the progression of the disease, and at a later time point was accompanied by increased uptake by barrier tissues, edema, and ventilation defects-all of which are salient characteristics of the monocrotaline model. Imaging results were validated by H&E histology, which showed evidence of remodeling of arterioles. This proof-of-concept study has demonstrated that hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI has strong potential to be used to non-invasively monitor the progression of pulmonary hypertension in preclinical models and potentially to also assess response to therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rohan S Virgincar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John C Nouls
- Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Simone Degan
- Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yi Qi
- Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Xinyu Xiong
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Bastiaan Driehuys
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zuo L, Chuang CC, Clark AD, Garrison DE, Kuhlman JL, Sypert DC. Reactive Oxygen Species in COPD-Related Vascular Remodeling. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 967:399-411. [PMID: 29047102 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-63245-2_26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multifaceted process involving the alteration of pulmonary vasculature. Such vascular remodeling can be associated with inflammation, shear stress, and hypoxia-conditions commonly seen in patients with lung diseases. Particularly, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the diseased lungs contributes greatly to pulmonary vascular remodeling. ROS play an important role in vascular homeostasis, yet excessive ROS can alter pulmonary vasculature and impair lung function, as implicated in COPD at all stages. Increased inflammatory cell infiltration and endothelial dysfunction both correspond to the severity of COPD. As a byproduct of vascular remodeling, pulmonary hypertension negatively affects the long-term survival rate of COPD patients. While there is currently no cure for COPD, several treatment options have focused on alleviating COPD symptoms. Interventions such as long-term oxygen therapy, endothelium-targeted treatment, and pharmacological therapies show promising results in improving the life span of COPD patients and attenuating the progression of pulmonary hypertension. In this chapter, we aim to discuss the contributing factors of pulmonary vascular remodeling in COPD with an emphasis on the ROS, as well as potential redox treatments for COPD-related vascular remodeling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Zuo
- Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
| | - Chia-Chen Chuang
- Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Alexander D Clark
- Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Davis E Garrison
- Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Jamie L Kuhlman
- Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - David C Sypert
- Molecular Physiology and Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Radiologic Sciences and Respiratory Therapy Division, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|