Caspase-4/11–Mediated Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cell Pyroptosis Contributes to Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Hypertension ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusi Wu ◽  
Bingjie Pan ◽  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
Xiaohui Li ◽  
Yiping Leng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Endothelial Cell Function ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Arterial Endothelial Cells

Background: Endothelial dysfunction enhances vascular inflammation, which initiates pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) pathogenesis, further induces vascular remodeling and right ventricular failure. Activation of inflammatory caspases is an important initial event at the onset of pyroptosis. Studies have shown that caspase-1–mediated pyroptosis has played a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PAH. However, the role of caspase-11, another inflammatory caspase, remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the role of caspase-11 in the development of PAH and its mechanism on endothelial cell function. Methods: The role of caspase-11 in the progression of PAH and vascular remodeling was assessed in vivo. In vitro, the effect of caspase-4 silencing on the human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells pyroptosis was determined. Results: We confirmed that caspase-11 and its human homolog caspase-4 were activated in PAH animal models and TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α–induced human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells. Caspase-11 −/− relieved right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricle hypertrophy, and vascular remodeling in Sugen-5416 combined with chronic hypoxia mice model. Meanwhile, pharmacological inhibition of caspase-11 with wedelolactone exhibited alleviated development of PAH on the monocrotaline-induced rat model. Moreover, knockdown of caspase-4 repressed the onset of TNF-α–induced pyroptosis in human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells and inhibited the activation of pyroptosis effector GSDMD (gasdermin D) and GSDME (gasdermin E). Conclusions: These observations identified the critical role of caspase-4/11 in the pyroptosis pathway to modulate pulmonary vascular dysfunction and accelerate the progression of PAH. Our findings provide a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in PAH.

scholarly journals Sulforaphane prevents right ventricular injury and reduces pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 318 (4) ◽  
pp. H853-H866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Kang ◽  
Guangyan Zhang ◽  
Emma C. Huang ◽  
Jiapeng Huang ◽  
Jun Cai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Systolic Function ◽  
Systolic Dysfunction ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is the main determinant of mortality in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and while inflammation is pathogenic in PAH, there is limited information on the role of RV inflammation in PAH. Sulforaphane (SFN), a potent Nrf2 activator, has significant anti-inflammatory effects and facilitates cardiac protection in preclinical diabetic models. Therefore, we hypothesized that SFN might play a comparable role in reducing RV and pulmonary inflammation and injury in a murine PAH model. We induced PAH using SU5416 and 10% hypoxia (SuHx) for 4 wk in male mice randomized to SFN at a daily dose of 0.5 mg/kg 5 days per week for 4 wk or to vehicle control. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to characterize chamber-specific ventricular function during PAH induction. At 4 wk, we measured RV pressure and relevant measures of histology and protein and gene expression. SuHx induced progressive RV, but not LV, diastolic and systolic dysfunction, and RV and pulmonary remodeling, fibrosis, and inflammation. SFN prevented SuHx-induced RV dysfunction and remodeling, reduced RV inflammation and fibrosis, upregulated Nrf2 expression and its downstream gene NQO1, and reduced the inflammatory mediator leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3). SFN also reduced SuHx-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling, inflammation, and fibrosis. SFN alone had no effect on the heart or lungs. Thus, SuHx-induced RV and pulmonary dysfunction, inflammation, and fibrosis can be attenuated or prevented by SFN, supporting the rationale for further studies to investigate SFN and the role of Nrf2 and NLRP3 pathways in preclinical and clinical PAH studies. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in this murine model (SU5416 + hypoxia) is associated with early changes in right ventricular (RV) diastolic and systolic function. RV and lung injury in the SU5416 + hypoxia model are associated with markers for fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Sulforaphane (SFN) alone for 4 wk has no effect on the murine heart or lungs. Sulforaphane (SFN) attenuates or prevents the RV and lung injury in the SUF5416 + hypoxia model of PAH, suggesting that Nrf2 may be a candidate target for strategies to prevent or reverse PAH.

scholarly journals Endothelial Cells Caught in the Crosshairs of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-158
Author(s):  
Duncan J. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Cell Injury ◽  
Endothelial Cell Injury ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

The purpose of this overview is to provide a framework for understanding the fundamental mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension and suggest a unifying concept that may better guide the development of therapies based on the central role of endothelial cell injury and loss by apoptosis.

Model Characterization of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Analysis of Lung Pathology with Respect to Human Disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Eptisam lambu
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Vascular Wall ◽  
Lung Pathology ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Lung Pathogenesis ◽  
Arterial Endothelial Cells

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare multifactorial disease characterized by abnormal high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, or increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), caused by obstruction in the small arteries of the lung. Increased PVR is also thought to be caused by abnormal vascular remodeling, due to thickening of the pulmonary vascular wall resulting from significant hypertrophy of pulmonary arterial smooth-muscle cells (PASMCs) and increased proliferation/impaired apoptosis of pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs). Herein, we investigated the mechanisms and explored molecular pathways mediating the lung pathogenesis in two PAH rat models: Monocrotaline (MCT) and Sugen5416/Hypoxia (SuHx). We analyzed these disease models to determine where the vasculature shows the most severe PAH pathology and which model best recapitulates the human disease. We investigated the role vascular remodeling, hypoxia, cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage and inflammation play in the pathogenesis of PAH. Neither model recapitulated all features of the human disease, however each model presented with some of the pathology seen in PAH patients.

ID: 123: ROLE OF MICRORNA-1 IN REGULATING PULMONARY VASCULAR REMODELING IN PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 969.1-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Sysol ◽  
J Chen ◽  
S Singla ◽  
V Natarajan ◽  
RF Machado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle

RationalePulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe, progressive disease characterized by increased pulmonary arterial pressure and resistance due in part to uncontrolled vascular remodeling. The mechanisms contributing to vascular remodeling in PAH are poorly understood and involve rampant pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) proliferation. We recently demonstrated the important role of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), a lipid kinase producing pro-proliferative sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), in the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH. However, the regulatory processes involved in upregulation of SphK1 in this disease are unknown.ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to identify novel molecular mechanisms governing the regulation of SphK1 expression, with a focus on microRNA (miR). Using both in vitro studies in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and an in vivo mouse model of experimental hypoxia-mediated pulmonary hypertension (HPH), we explored the role of miR in controlling SphK1 expression in the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling.Methods and ResultsIn silico analysis identified hsa-miR-1-3p (miR-1) as a candidate targeting SphK1. We demonstrate miR-1 is down-regulated by hypoxia in human PASMCs and in lung tissues of mice with HPH, coinciding with upregulation of SphK1 expression. PASMCs isolated from patients with PAH had significantly reduced expression of miR-1. Transfection of human PASMCs with miR-1 mimics significantly attenuated activity of a SphK1-3'-UTR luciferase reporter construct and SphK1 protein expression. miR-1 overexpression in human PASMCs also inhibited proliferation and migration under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, both important in pathogenic vascular remodeling in PAH. Finally, we demonstrated that intravenous administration of miR-1 mimics prevents the development of experimental HPH in mice and attenuates induction of SphK1 in PASMCs.ConclusionThese data demonstrate that miR-1 expression in reduced in PASMCs from PAH patients, is modulated by hypoxia, and regulates the expression of SphK1. Key phenotypic aspects of vascular remodeling are influenced by miR-1 and its overexpression can prevent the development of HPH in mice. These studies further our understanding of the mechanisms underlying pathogenic pulmonary vascular remodeling in PAH and could lead to novel therapeutic targets.Supported by grants NIH/NHLBI R01 HL127342 and R01 HL111656 to RFM, NIH/NHLBI P01 HL98050 and R01 HL127342 to VN, American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship (15PRE2190004) to JRS, and NIH/NLHBI NRSA F30 Fellowship (FHL128034A) to JRS.

scholarly journals Targeting HIF2α-ARNT hetero-dimerisation as a novel therapeutic strategy for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

2020 ◽  
pp. 1902061
Author(s):  
David Macias ◽  
Stephen Moore ◽  
Alexi Crosby ◽  
Mark Southwood ◽  
Xinlin Du ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Right Heart Failure ◽  
Pulmonary Vasculature ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
The Impact

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a destructive disease of the pulmonary vasculature often leading to right heart failure and death. Current therapeutic intervention strategies only slow disease progression. The role of aberrant HIF2α stability and function in the initiation and development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been an area of intense interest for nearly two decades.Here we determine the effect of a novel HIF2α inhibitor (PT2567) on PH disease initiation and progression, using two pre-clinical models of PH. Haemodynamic measurements were performed followed by collection of heart, lung and blood for pathological, gene expression and biochemical analysis. Blood outgrowth endothelial cells from IPAH patients were used to determine the impact of HIF2α-inhibition on endothelial function.Global inhibition of HIF2a reduced pulmonary vascular haemodynamics and pulmonary vascular remodelling in both su5416/hypoxia prevention and intervention models. PT2567 intervention reduced the expression of PH associated target genes in both lung and cardiac tissues and restored plasma nitrite concentration. Treatment of monocrotaline exposed rodents with PT2567 reduced the impact on cardiovascular haemodynamics and promoted a survival advantage. In vitro, loss of HIF2α signalling in human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells suppresses target genes associated with inflammation, and PT2567 reduced the hyper-proliferative phenotype and over-active arginase activity in blood outgrowth endothelial cells from IPAH patients. These data suggest that targeting HIF2α hetero-dimerisation with an orally bioavailable compound could offer a new therapeutic approach for PAH. Future studies are required to determine the role of HIF in the heterogeneous PAH population.

Role of c-Abelson in the loss of genome integrity in endothelial cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Le Vely ◽  
Nihel Berrebeh ◽  
Carole Phan ◽  
Raphael Thuillet ◽  
Marc Humbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

scholarly journals Baicalin prevents pulmonary arterial remodeling in vivo via the AKT/ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 204589401987859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guosen Yan ◽  
Jinxia Wang ◽  
Tao Yi ◽  
Junfen Cheng ◽  
Haixu Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Ventricular Systolic Pressure ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rapidly progressive and often fatal disease. As the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension remains unclear, there is currently no good drug for pulmonary arterial hypertension and new therapy is desperately needed. This study investigated the effects and mechanism of baicalin on vascular remodeling in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension. A rat pulmonary arterial hypertension model was constructed using intraperitoneal injection of monocrotaline, and different doses of baicalin were used to treat these rats. The mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) were measured with a right heart catheter. Moreover, the hearts were dissected to determine the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI). The lung tissues were stained with H&E and Masson's staining to estimate the pulmonary vascular remodeling and collagen fibrosis, and the expression of proteins in the AKT, ERK, and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation (p-AKT, p-ERK, p-p65) was examined by Western blot analysis. We found that compared with untreated pulmonary arterial hypertension rats, baicalin ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodeling and cardiorespiratory injury, inhibited p-p65 and p-ERK expression, and promoted p-AKT and p-eNOS expression. In conclusion, baicalin interfered with pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary arterial hypertension development in rats through the AKT/eNOS, ERK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

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