Role of Nerve Growth Factor in Development and Persistence of Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension

Celastrol has beneficial effects on pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: Preclinical study outcomes

Pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD-PH) is a severe cardiorespiratory disease of preterm newborns leading to an excess of mortality in infancy and no curative treatment currently exists. Inflammation and oxidative stress are the common pathways that lead to BPD-PH. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate celastrol, a molecule with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as a promising preventive treatment in BPD-PH. In a model of neonatal rats exposed to hyperoxia, we demonstrated that mortality was prevented in animals treated with celastrol. Moreover, in vivo, celastrol decreased pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, vascular remodeling, pulmonary arterial hyperreactivity to endothelin-1 and inflammation but had no effect on hypoalveolarization and altered angiogenesis. In vitro experiments carried out on human fetal pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HfPA-SMC) exposed to hyperoxia showed that endothelin-1-induced intracellular calcium response was increased and celastrol significantly inhibited this effect, without modifying endothelin-1 receptors expression. Regarding inflammation, celastrol decreased both CD68 staining in lung and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-1 in intrapulmonary arteries from neonatal rats. IL-6 secretion was also decreased by celastrol in HfPA-SMC. Finally, hyperoxia increased heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and celastrol induced an overexpression of HO-1 in both neonatal rat lung and human cells. These results suggest that celastrol has a preventive effect on major hallmarks of PH in both a rat hyperoxic model of BPD-PH and HfPA-SMC exposed to hyperoxia via modulation of macrophage inflammatory signaling and HfPA-SMC calcium cycling. Celastrol could therefore be considered as a promising preventive treatment in BPD-PH.

NGF increases Connexin-43 expression and function in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells to induce pulmonary artery hyperreactivity

AIMS

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterised by an increase in pulmonary arterial pressure, ultimately leading to right ventricular failure and death. We have previously shown that nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a critical role in PH. Our objectives here were to determine whether NGF controls Connexin-43 (Cx43) expression and function in the pulmonary arterial smooth muscle, and whether this mechanism contributes to NGF-induced pulmonary artery hyperreactivity.

METHODS AND RESULTS

NGF activates its TrkA receptor to increase Cx43 expression, phosphorylation, and localization at the plasma membrane in human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, thus leading to enhanced activity of Cx43-dependent GAP junctions as shown by Lucifer Yellow dye assay transfer and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching -FRAP- experiments. Using both in vitro pharmacological and in vivo SiRNA approaches, we demonstrate that NGF-dependent increase in Cx43 expression and activity in the rat pulmonary circulation causes pulmonary artery hyperreactivity. We also show that, in a rat model of PH induced by chronic hypoxia, in vivo blockade of NGF or of its TrkA receptor significantly reduces Cx43 increased pulmonary arterial expression induced by chronic hypoxia and displays preventive effects on pulmonary arterial pressure increase and right heart hypertrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

Modulation of Cx43 by NGF in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells contributes to NGF-induced alterations of pulmonary artery reactivity. Since NGF and its TrkA receptor play a role in vivo in Cx43 increased expression in PH induced by chronic hypoxia, these NGF/Cx43-dependent mechanisms may therefore play a significant role in human PH pathophysiology.

[Nerve growth factor (NGF) in pulmonary hypertension (PH)]

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is the main pathology in lung circulation, characterized by increased pressure in pulmonary arteries and ultimately resulting in right heart failure with potentially fatal outcomes. Given the current lack of available curative treatments, it is of paramount importance to identify novel therapeutic targets. Due to its involvement in pulmonary arterial remodeling, hyperreactivity, and inflammation, our explorations have focused on the nerve growth factor (NGF), offering promising avenues for innovative therapeutic approaches.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension nanotherapeutics: New pharmacological targets and drug delivery strategies

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, serious, and incurable disease characterized by high lung pressure. PAH-approved drugs based on conventional pathways are still not exhibiting favorable therapeutic outcomes. Drawbacks like short half-lives, toxicity, and teratogenicity hamper effectiveness, clinical conventionality, and long-term safety. Hence, approaches like repurposing drugs targeting various and new pharmacological cascades and/or loaded in non-toxic/efficient nanocarrier systems are being investigated lately. This review summarizes the status of conventional, repurposed, either in vitro, in vivo, and/or in clinical trials of PAH treatment. In-depth description, discussion, and classification of the new pharmacological targets and nanomedicine strategies with a description of all the nanocarriers that showed promising efficiency in delivering drugs are discussed. Ultimately, an illustration of the different nucleic acids tailored and nanoencapsulated within different types of nanocarriers to restore the pathways affected by this disease is presented.

Metabolic Deregulation in Pulmonary Hypertension

The high morbidity and mortality rate of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is partially explained by metabolic deregulation. The present study complements our previous publication in "Genes" by identifying significant increases of the glucose transporter solute carrier family 2 (Slc2a1), beta nerve growth factor (Ngf), and nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nfe2l2) in three standard PAH rat models. PAH was induced by subjecting the animals to hypoxia (HO), or by injecting with monocrotaline in either normal (CM) or hypoxic (HM) atmospheric conditions. The Western blot and double immunofluorescent experiments were complemented with novel analyses of previously published transcriptomic datasets of the animal lungs from the perspective of the Genomic Fabric Paradigm. We found substantial remodeling of the citrate cycle, pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and fructose and mannose pathways. According to the transcriptomic distance, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis was the most affected functional pathway in all three PAH models. PAH decoupled the coordinated expression of many metabolic genes, and replaced phosphomannomutase 2 (Pmm2) with phosphomannomutase 1 (Pmm1) in the center of the fructose and mannose metabolism. We also found significant regulation of key genes involved in PAH channelopathies. In conclusion, our data show that metabolic dysregulation is a major PAH pathogenic factor.

Cytokines as prognostic biomarkers in pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND

Risk stratification and assessment of disease progression in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are challenged by the lack of accurate disease-specific and prognostic biomarkers. To date, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and/or its N-terminal fragment (NT-proBNP) are the only markers for right ventricular dysfunction used in clinical practice, in association with echocardiographic and invasive haemodynamic variables to predict outcome in patients with PAH.

METHODS

This study was designed to identify an easily measurable biomarker panel in the serum of 80 well-phenotyped PAH patients with idiopathic, heritable or drug-induced PAH at baseline and at first follow-up. The prognostic value of identified cytokines of interest was secondly analysed in an external validation cohort of 125 PAH patients.

RESULTS

Among the 20 biomarkers studied with the multiplex Ella platform, we identified a three-biomarker panel composed of β-NGF, CXCL9 and TRAIL that were independently associated with prognosis both at the time of PAH diagnosis and at the first follow-up after initiation of PAH therapy. β-NGF and CXCL9 were predictors of death or transplantation, whereas high levels of TRAIL were associated with a better prognosis. Furthermore, the prognostic value of the three cytokines was more powerful for predicting survival than usual non-invasive variables (New York Heart Association Functional Class, 6-min walk distance and BNP/NT-proBNP). The results were validated in a fully independent external validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

The monitoring of β-NGF, CXCL9 and TRAIL levels in serum should be considered in the management and treatment of patients with PAH to objectively guide therapeutic options.

Important Role of Endogenous Nerve Growth Factor Receptor in the Pathogenesis of Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Mice

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) remains a disease with poor prognosis; thus, a new mechanism for PAH treatment is necessary. Circulating nerve growth factor receptor (Ngfr)-positive cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells are associated with disease severity and the prognosis of PAH patients; however, the role of Ngfr in PAH is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the function of Ngfr using Ngfr gene-deletion (Ngfr-/-) mice. To elucidate the role of Ngfr in pulmonary hypertension (PH), we used Ngfr-/- mice that were exposed to chronic hypoxic conditions (10% O2) for 3 weeks. The development of hypoxia-induced PH was accelerated in Ngfr-/- mice compared to littermate controls. In contrast, the reconstitution of bone marrow (BM) in Ngfr-/- mice transplanted with wild-type BM cells improved PH. Notably, the exacerbation of PH in Ngfr-/- mice was accompanied by the upregulation of pulmonary vascular remodeling-related genes in lung tissue. In a hypoxia-induced PH model, Ngfr gene deletion resulted in PH exacerbation. This suggests that Ngfr may be a key molecule involved in the pathogenesis of PAH.

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Induce NGF Secretion by Pulmonary Arterial Cells through a TGF-β1-Dependent Mechanism

Expression of the nerve growth factor NGF is increased in pulmonary hypertension (PH). We have here studied whether oxidative stress and inflammation, two pathological conditions associated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in PH, may trigger NGF secretion by pulmonary arterial (PA) cells. Effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were investigated ex vivo on rat pulmonary arteries, as well as in vitro on human PA smooth muscle (hPASMC) or endothelial cells (hPAEC). TβRI expression was assessed by Western blotting. NGF PA secretion was assessed by ELISA after TGF-β1 blockade (anti-TGF-β1 siRNA, TGF-β1 blocking antibodies, TβRI kinase, p38 or Smad3 inhibitors). TβRI PA expression was evidenced by Western blotting both ex vivo and in vitro. H2O2 or IL-1β significantly increased NGF secretion by hPASMC and hPAEC, and this effect was significantly reduced when blocking TGF-β1 expression, binding to TβRI, TβRI activity, or signaling pathways. In conclusion, oxidative stress and inflammation may trigger TGF-β1 secretion by hPASMC and hPAEC. TGF-β1 may then act as an autocrine factor on these cells, increasing NGF secretion via TβRI activation. Since NGF and TGF-β1 are relevant growth factors involved in PA remodeling, such mechanisms may therefore be relevant to PH pathophysiology.

Effects of FW2 Nanoparticles Toxicity in a New In Vitro Pulmonary Vascular Cells Model Mimicking Endothelial Dysfunction

Several epidemiological studies have revealed the involvement of nanoparticles (NPs) in respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. In this work, the focus will be on the effect of manufactured carbon black NPs for risk assessment of consumers and workers, as human exposure is likely to increase. Since the pulmonary circulation could be one of the primary targets of inhaled NPs, patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension (PH) could be a population at risk. To compare the toxic effect of carbon black NPs in the pulmonary circulation under physiologic and pathological conditions, we developed a new in vitro model mimicking the endothelial dysfunction and vascular dynamics observed in vascular pathology such as PH. Human pulmonary artery endothelial cells were cultured under physiological conditions (static and normoxia 21% O₂) or under pathological conditions (20% cycle stretch and hypoxia 1% O₂). Then, cells were treated for 4 or 6 h with carbon black FW2 NPs from 5 to 10 µg/cm². Different endpoints were studied: (i) NPs internalization by transmission electronic microscopy; (ii) oxidative stress by CM-H₂DCFDA probe and electron paramagnetic resonance; (iii) NO (nitrites and nitrates) production by Griess reaction; (iv) inflammation by ELISA assay; and (v) calcium signaling by confocal microscopy. The present study characterizes the in vitro model mimicking endothelial dysfunction in PH and indicates that, under such pathological conditions, oxidative stress and inflammation are increased along with calcium signaling alterations, as compared to the physiological conditions. Human exposure to carbon black NPs could produce greater deleterious effects in vulnerable patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Nerve Growth Factor: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Lung Diseases

The lungs play a very important role in the human respiratory system. However, many factors can destroy the structure of the lung, causing several lung diseases and, often, serious damage to people's health. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a polypeptide which is widely expressed in lung tissues. Under different microenvironments, NGF participates in the occurrence and development of lung diseases by changing protein expression levels and mediating cell function. In this review, we summarize the functions of NGF as well as some potential underlying mechanisms in pulmonary fibrosis (PF), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pulmonary hypertension (PH), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Furthermore, we highlight that anti-NGF may be used in future therapeutic strategies.

Phenotypic Diversity of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Implications for Therapy

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive incurable condition that is characterized by extensive remodelling of the pulmonary circulation, leading to severe right heart failure and death. Similar to other vascular contractile cells, pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) play central roles in physiological and pathological vascular remodelling due to their remarkable ability to dynamically modulate their phenotype to ensure contractile and synthetic functions. The dysfunction and molecular mechanisms underlying their contribution to the various pulmonary vascular lesions associated with PAH have been a major focus of research. The aim of this review is to describe the medial and non-medial origins of contractile cells in the pulmonary vascular wall and present evidence of how they contribute to the onset and progression of PAH. We also highlight specific potential target molecules and discuss future directions that are being explored to widen the therapeutic options for the treatment of PAH.

ROCK Inhibition as Potential Target for Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a cardiovascular disease caused by extensive vascular remodeling in the lungs, which ultimately leads to death in consequence of right ventricle (RV) failure. While current drugs for PH therapy address the sustained vasoconstriction, no agent effectively targets vascular cell proliferation and tissue inflammation. Rho-associated protein kinases (ROCKs) emerged in the last few decades as promising targets for PH therapy, since ROCK inhibitors demonstrated significant anti-remodeling and anti-inflammatory effects. In this review, current aspects of ROCK inhibition therapy are discussed in relation to the treatment of PH and RV dysfunction, from cell biology to preclinical and clinical studies.

Targeted proteomics of right heart adaptation to pulmonary arterial hypertension

No prior proteomic screening study has centred on the right ventricle (RV) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study investigates the circulating proteomic profile associated with right heart maladaptive phenotype (RHMP) in PAH.Plasma proteomic profiling was performed using multiplex immunoassay in 121 (discovery cohort) and 76 (validation cohort) PAH patients. The association between proteomic markers and RHMP, defined by the Mayo right heart score (combining RV strain, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)) and Stanford score (RV end-systolic remodelling index, NYHA class and NT-proBNP), was assessed by partial least squares regression. Biomarker expression was measured in RV samples from PAH patients and controls, and pulmonary artery banding (PAB) mice.High levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), stem cell growth factor-β, nerve growth factor and stromal derived factor-1 were associated with worse Mayo and Stanford scores independently from pulmonary resistance or pressure in both cohorts (the validation cohort had more severe disease features: lower cardiac index and higher NT-proBNP). In both cohorts, HGF added value to the REVEAL score in the prediction of death, transplant or hospitalisation at 3 years. RV expression levels of HGF and its receptor c-Met were higher in end-stage PAH patients than controls, and in PAB mice than shams.High plasma HGF levels are associated with RHMP and predictive of 3-year clinical worsening. Both HGF and c-Met RV expression levels are increased in PAH. Assessing plasma HGF levels might identify patients at risk of heart failure who warrant closer follow-up and intensified therapy.

A pharmacological framework for integrating treating the host, drug repurposing and the damage response framework in COVID-19

With any new disease a framework for the development of preventative or treatment therapeutics is key; the absence of such in COVID-19 has enabled ineffective and potentially unsafe treatments to be taken up by governments and clinicians desperate to have options for patients. As we still have few therapies and nil vaccines yet available, the void of a clear framework for research and practice is increasingly clear. We describe a framework that has been used to prioritise therapeutic research in previous pandemics which could be used to progress clinical pharmacology and therapeutics research in COVID-19. This is particularly relevant as discussion has already moved on from antiviral therapeutics to delineating the treatment of the host from treatment and elimination of the infective agent. Focussing on the host brings together three concepts: host treatment, the damage response framework and therapeutic repurposing. The integration of these three areas plays to the traditional strength of pharmaceuticals in providing a period of stabilization to permit time for the development of novel antiviral drugs and vaccines. In integrating approaches to repurposing, host treatment and damage response we identified three key properties that a potentially effective repurposed drug must possess by way of a framework. There must be homology, i.e., the same or similar relation with the pathogenesis of the disease, ideally targeted to the conserved pathophysiological outcomes of the viral attack; there must be a defined locus within the spectrum to prevention to severe disease and the framework must draw upon the historical dose and safety experience of the repurposed drug. To illustrate, we have mapped therapeutics that impact upon a key dysregulated pathway in COVID-19 - the renin angiotensin system - using this approach. Collectively this type of analysis reveals the importance of existing data (repurposed information and administrative observational data) and the importance of the details of the known pathophysiological response to viruses in approaches to treating the host.

Astragaloside IV blocks monocrotaline‑induced pulmonary arterial hypertension by improving inflammation and pulmonary artery remodeling

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with increased inflammation and abnormal vascular remodeling. Astragaloside IV (ASIV), a purified small molecular saponin contained in the well-know herb, Astragalus membranaceus, is known to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation effects. Thus, the present study investigated the possible therapeutic effects of ASIV on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH. Rats were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of MCT (60 mg/kg), followed by treatment with ASIV at doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg once daily for 21 days. Subsequently, right ventricle systolic pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy and serum inflammatory cytokines, as well as pathological changes of the pulmonary arteries, were examined. The effects of ASIV on the hypoxia-induced proliferation and apoptotic resistance of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) and the dysfunction of human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) were evaluated. MCT elevated pulmonary artery pressure and promoted pulmonary artery structural remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy in the rats, which were all attenuated by both doses of ASIV used. Additionally, ASIV prevented the increase in the TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations in serum, as well as their gene expression in lung tissues induced by MCT. In in vitro experiments, ASIV attenuated the hypoxia-induced proliferation and apoptotic resistance of HPASMCs. In addition, ASIV upregulated the protein expression of p27, p21, Bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3, whereas it downregulated HIF-1α, phospho-ERK and Bcl-2 protein expression in HPASMCs. Furthermore, in HPAECs, ASIV normalized the increased release of inflammatory cytokines and the increased protein levels of HIF-1α and VEGF induced by hypoxia. On the whole, these results indicate that ASIV attenuates MCT-induced PAH by improving inflammation, pulmonary artery endothelial cell dysfunction, pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis.

Growth factors in pulmonary arterial hypertension: Focus on preserving right ventricular function

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and progressive disease, characterized by increased vascular resistance leading to right ventricle (RV) failure. The extent of right ventricular dysfunction crucially influences disease prognosis; however, currently no therapies have specific cardioprotective effects. Besides discussing the pathophysiology of right ventricular adaptation in PAH, this review focuses on the roles of growth factors (GFs) in disease pathomechanism. We also summarize the involvement of GFs in the preservation of cardiomyocyte function, to evaluate their potential as cardioprotective biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets in PAH.

Connexin-43 is a promising target for pulmonary hypertension due to hypoxaemic lung disease

The mechanisms underlying pulmonary hypertension (PH) are complex and multifactorial, and involve different cell types that are interconnected through gap junctional channels. Although connexin (Cx)-43 is the most abundant gap junction protein in the heart and lungs, and critically governs intercellular signalling communication, its contribution to PH remains unknown. The focus of the present study is thus to evaluate Cx43 as a potential new target in PH.Expressions of Cx37, Cx40 and Cx43 were studied in lung specimens from patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) or PH associated with chronic hypoxaemic lung diseases (chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (CH-PH)). Heterozygous Cx43 knockdown CD1 (Cx43^+/-) and wild-type littermate (Cx43^+/+) mice at 12 weeks of age were randomly divided into two groups, one of which was maintained in room air and the other exposed to hypoxia (10% oxygen) for 3 weeks. We evaluated pulmonary haemodynamics, remodelling processes in cardiac tissues and pulmonary arteries (PAs), lung inflammation and PA vasoreactivity.Cx43 levels were increased in PAs from CH-PH patients and decreased in PAs from IPAH patients; however, no difference in Cx37 or Cx40 levels was noted. Upon hypoxia treatment, the Cx43^+/- mice were partially protected against CH-PH when compared to Cx43^+/+ mice, with reduced pulmonary arterial muscularisation and inflammatory infiltration. Interestingly, the adaptive changes in cardiac remodelling in Cx43^+/- mice were not affected. PA contraction due to endothelin-1 (ET-1) was increased in Cx43^+/- mice under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.Taken together, these results indicate that targeting Cx43 may have beneficial therapeutic effects in PH without affecting compensatory cardiac hypertrophy.

[The expression and role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in pulmonary hypertension]

Pulmonary hypertension is a severe multifactorial disease of the pulmonary circulation characterized by a progressive elevation in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm), leading to right ventricular failure and the death of the patient. Current therapies slow the progression of the disease but do not offer a cure. Nerve growth factor NGF is a growth factor playing a significant role in the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension, particularly in pulmonary arterial hyperreactivity, and the remodelling and inflammation of the pulmonary vasculature. Thus, targeting NGF may offer new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of this disease.

Highlights from the ERS International Congress 2018: Assembly 13 - Pulmonary Vascular Diseases

The 2018 European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress in Paris, France, highlighted the subject of pulmonary vascular disease (PVD). 2018 was an exciting year for the PVD community as it was the first ERS International Congress since the formation of Assembly 13, which is dedicated to PVD, pulmonary embolism and the right ventricle. This article aims to summarise the high-quality studies presented at the 2018 Congress into four subject areas: the use of risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension, the molecular mechanisms and treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH), understanding and improving the right ventricle in PH, and finally, advances in the field of acute pulmonary embolus.

Long non-coding RNAs influence the transcriptome in pulmonary arterial hypertension: the role of PAXIP1-AS1

In idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), global transcriptional changes induce a smooth muscle cell phenotype characterised by excessive proliferation, migration, and apoptosis resistance. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of cellular function. Using a compartment‐specific transcriptional profiling approach, we sought to investigate the link between transcriptional reprogramming by lncRNAs and the maladaptive smooth muscle cell phenotype in IPAH. Transcriptional profiling of small remodelled arteries from 18 IPAH patients and 17 controls revealed global perturbations in metabolic, neuronal, proliferative, and immunological processes. We demonstrated an IPAH‐specific lncRNA expression profile and identified the lncRNA PAXIP1‐AS1 as highly abundant. Comparative transcriptomic analysis and functional assays revealed an intrinsic role for PAXIP1‐AS1 in orchestrating the hyperproliferative and migratory actions of IPAH smooth muscle cells. Further, we showed that PAXIP1‐AS1 mechanistically interferes with the focal adhesion axis via regulation of expression and phosphorylation of its downstream target paxillin. Overall, we show that changes in the lncRNA transcriptome contribute to the disease‐specific transcriptional landscape in IPAH. Our results suggest that lncRNAs, such as PAXIP1‐AS1, can modulate smooth muscle cell function by affecting multiple IPAH‐specific transcriptional programmes. © 2018 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Chronic hypoxia aggravates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension: a rodent relevant model to the human severe form of the disease

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe form of pulmonary hypertension that combines multiple alterations of pulmonary arteries, including, in particular, thrombotic and plexiform lesions. Multiple-pathological-insult animal models, developed to more closely mimic this human severe PAH form, often require complex and/or long experimental procedures while not displaying the entire panel of characteristic lesions observed in the human disease. In this study, we further characterized a rat model of severe PAH generated by combining a single injection of monocrotaline with 4 weeks exposure to chronic hypoxia. This model displays increased pulmonary arterial pressure, right heart altered function and remodeling, pulmonary arterial inflammation, hyperresponsiveness and remodeling. In particular, severe pulmonary arteriopathy was observed, with thrombotic, neointimal and plexiform-like lesions similar to those observed in human severe PAH. This model, based on the combination of two conventional procedures, may therefore be valuable to further understand the pathophysiology of severe PAH and identify new potential therapeutic targets in this disease.

[Towards new targets for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension : Importance of cell-cell communications]

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disorder in which mechanical obstruction of the pulmonary vascular bed is largely responsible for the rise in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), resulting in a progressive functional decline despite current available therapeutic options. There are multiple mechanisms predisposing to and/or promoting the aberrant pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH, and these involve not only altered crosstalk between cells within the vascular wall but also sustained inflammation and dysimmunity, cell accumulation in the vascular wall and excessive activation of some growth factor-stimulated signaling pathways, in addition to the interaction of systemic hormones, local growth factors, cytokines, and transcription factors. Heterozygous germline mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor, type-2 (BMPR2) gene, a gene encoding a receptor for the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily, can predispose to the disease. Although the spectrum of therapeutic options for PAH has expanded in the last 20 years, available therapies remain essentially palliative. Over the past decade, however, a better understanding of key regulators of this irreversible remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature has been obtained. New and more effective approaches are likely to emerge. The present article profiles the innovative research into novel pathways and therapeutic targets that may lead to the development of targeted agents in PAH.