scholarly journals Notch4 mediates vascular remodeling via ERK/JNK/P38 MAPK signaling pathways in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

2022 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingzhou Guo ◽  
Mengzhe Zhang ◽  
Xiaopei Cao ◽  
Xiaoyu Fang ◽  
Ke Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Cell Surface Receptor ◽  
Cell Counting ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
And Migration

Abstract Background Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a chronic progressive advanced disorder pathologically characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. Notch4 as a cell surface receptor is critical for vascular development. However, little is known about the role and mechanism of Notch4 in the development of hypoxic vascular remodeling. Methods Lung tissue samples were collected to detect the expression of Notch4 from patients with HPH and matched controls. Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) were cultured in hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to examine the mRNA and protein levels of Notch4. HPASMCs were transfected with small interference RNA (siRNA) against Notch4 or Notch4 overexpression plasmid, respectively. Cell viability, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8, Edu, Annexin-V/PI, and Transwell assay. The interaction between Notch4 and ERK, JNK, P38 MAPK were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation. Adeno-associated virus 1-mediated siRNA against Notch4 (AAV1-si-Notch4) was injected into the airways of hypoxic rats. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary vascular remodeling were evaluated. Results In this study, we demonstrate that Notch4 is highly expressed in the media of pulmonary vascular and is upregulated in lung tissues from patients with HPH and HPH rats compared with control groups. In vitro, hypoxia induces the high expression of Delta-4 and Notch4 in HPASMCs. The increased expression of Notch4 promotes HPASMCs proliferation and migration and inhibits cells apoptosis via ERK, JNK, P38 signaling pathways. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation result elucidates the interaction between Notch4 and ERK/JNK/P38. In vivo, silencing Notch4 partly abolished the increase in RVSP and pulmonary vascular remodeling caused by hypoxia in HPH rats. Conclusions These findings reveal an important role of the Notch4-ERK/JNK/P38 MAPK axis in hypoxic pulmonary remodeling and provide a potential therapeutic target for patients with HPH.

scholarly journals The role of inflammation in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension: from cellular mechanisms to clinical phenotypes

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (3) ◽  
pp. L229-L252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven C. Pugliese ◽  
Jens M. Poth ◽  
Mehdi A. Fini ◽  
Andrea Olschewski ◽  
Karim C. El Kasmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Mesenchymal Cells ◽  
World Health ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Cellular Interactions ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Group I

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH) comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases sharing the common feature of chronic hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling. The disease is usually characterized by mild to moderate pulmonary vascular remodeling that is largely thought to be reversible compared with the progressive irreversible disease seen in World Health Organization (WHO) group I disease. However, in these patients, the presence of PH significantly worsens morbidity and mortality. In addition, a small subset of patients with hypoxic PH develop “out-of-proportion” severe pulmonary hypertension characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling that is irreversible and similar to that in WHO group I disease. In all cases of hypoxia-related vascular remodeling and PH, inflammation, particularly persistent inflammation, is thought to play a role. This review focuses on the effects of hypoxia on pulmonary vascular cells and the signaling pathways involved in the initiation and perpetuation of vascular inflammation, especially as they relate to vascular remodeling and transition to chronic irreversible PH. We hypothesize that the combination of hypoxia and local tissue factors/cytokines (“second hit”) antagonizes tissue homeostatic cellular interactions between mesenchymal cells (fibroblasts and/or smooth muscle cells) and macrophages and arrests these cells in an epigenetically locked and permanently activated proremodeling and proinflammatory phenotype. This aberrant cellular cross-talk between mesenchymal cells and macrophages promotes transition to chronic nonresolving inflammation and vascular remodeling, perpetuating PH. A better understanding of these signaling pathways may lead to the development of specific therapeutic targets, as none are currently available for WHO group III disease.

scholarly journals TRB3 mediates vascular remodeling by activating the MAPK signaling pathway in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaopei Cao ◽  
Xiaoyu Fang ◽  
Mingzhou Guo ◽  
Xiaochen Li ◽  
Yuanzhou He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Pulmonary Artery ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
P38 Mapk ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Mapk Signaling Pathway ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract Background Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a refractory pulmonary vascular remodeling disease, and the efficiency of current PH treatment strategies is unsatisfactory. Tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3), a member of the pseudokinase family, is upregulated in diverse types of cellular stresses and functions as either a pro-proliferative or pro-apoptotic factor depending on the specific microenvironment. The regulatory mechanisms of TRB3 in hypoxic PH are poorly understood. Methods We performed studies using TRB3-specific silencing and overexpressing lentiviral vectors to investigate the potential roles of TRB3 on hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Adeno-associated virus type 1(AVV1) vectors encoding short-hairpin RNAs against rat TRB3 were used to assess the role of TRB3 on hypoxic PH. TRB3 protein expression in PH patients was explored in clinical samples by western blot analysis. Results The results of whole-rat genome oligo microarrays showed that the expression of TRB3 and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related genes was upregulated in hypoxic PASMCs. TRB3 protein expression was significantly upregulated by hypoxia and thapsigargin. In addition, 4-PBA and 4μ8C, both inhibitors of ERS, decreased the expression of TRB3. TRB3 knockdown promoted apoptosis and damaged the proliferative and migratory abilities of hypoxic PASMCs as well as inhibited activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. TRB3 overexpression stimulated the proliferation and migration of PASMCs but decreased the apoptosis of PASMCs, which was partly reversed by specific inhibitors of ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK. The Co-IP results revealed that TRB3 directly interacts with ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK. Knockdown of TRB3 in rat lung tissue reduced the right ventricular systolic pressure and decreased pulmonary medial wall thickness in hypoxic PH model rats. Further, the expression of TRB3 in lung tissues was higher in patients with PH compared with those who have normal pulmonary artery pressure. Conclusions TRB3 was upregulated in hypoxic PASMCs and was affected by ERS. TRB3 plays a key role in the pathogenesis of hypoxia-induced PH by binding and activating the ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPK pathways. Thus, TRB3 might be a promising target for the treatment of hypoxic PH.

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.

KLF5 mediates vascular remodeling via HIF-1α in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (4) ◽  
pp. L299-L310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Li ◽  
Yuanzhou He ◽  
Yongjian Xu ◽  
Xiaomin Huang ◽  
Jin Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Cyclin B1 ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is characterized by active vasoconstriction and profound vascular remodeling. KLF5, a zinc-finger transcription factor, is involved in the excessive proliferation and apoptotic resistance phenotype associated with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension. However, the molecular mechanisms of KLF5-mediated pathogenesis of HPH are largely undefined. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to normoxia or hypoxia (10% O2) for 4 wk. Hypoxic rats developed pulmonary arterial remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy with significantly increased right ventricular systolic pressure. The levels of KLF5 and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) were upregulated in distal pulmonary arterial smooth muscle from hypoxic rats. The knockdown of KLF5 via short-hairpin RNA attenuated chronic hypoxia-induced hemodynamic and histological changes in rats. The silencing of either KLF5 or HIF-1α prevented hypoxia-induced (5%) proliferation and migration and promoted apoptosis in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. KLF5 was immunoprecipitated with HIF-1α under hypoxia and acted as an upstream regulator of HIF-1α. The cell cycle regulators cyclin B1 and cyclin D1 and apoptosis-related proteins including bax, bcl-2, survivin, caspase-3, and caspase-9, were involved in the regulation of KLF5/HIF-1α-mediated cell survival. This study demonstrated that KLF5 plays a crucial role in hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling in an HIF-1α-dependent manner and provided a better understanding of the pathogenesis of HPH.

scholarly journals Deficiency of Akt1, but not Akt2, attenuates the development of pulmonary hypertension

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (2) ◽  
pp. L208-L220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyang Tang ◽  
Jiwang Chen ◽  
Dustin R. Fraidenburg ◽  
Shanshan Song ◽  
Justin R. Sysol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Akt Isoforms ◽  
Cell Proliferation And Migration ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Proliferation And Migration

Pulmonary vascular remodeling, mainly attributable to enhanced pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, is a major cause for elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure in patients with pulmonary hypertension. The signaling cascade through Akt, comprised of three isoforms (Akt1–3) with distinct but overlapping functions, is involved in regulating cell proliferation and migration. This study aims to investigate whether the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and particularly which Akt isoform, contributes to the development and progression of pulmonary vascular remodeling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH). Compared with the wild-type littermates, Akt1 −/− mice were protected against the development and progression of chronic HPH, whereas Akt2 −/− mice did not demonstrate any significant protection against the development of HPH. Furthermore, pulmonary vascular remodeling was significantly attenuated in the Akt1 −/− mice, with no significant effect noted in the Akt2 −/− mice after chronic exposure to normobaric hypoxia (10% O2). Overexpression of the upstream repressor of Akt signaling, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), and conditional and inducible knockout of mTOR in smooth muscle cells were also shown to attenuate the rise in right ventricular systolic pressure and the development of right ventricular hypertrophy. In conclusion, Akt isoforms appear to have a unique function within the pulmonary vasculature, with the Akt1 isoform having a dominant role in pulmonary vascular remodeling associated with HPH. The PTEN/Akt1/mTOR signaling pathway will continue to be a critical area of study in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension, and specific Akt isoforms may help specify therapeutic targets for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.

scholarly journals The Short-Chain Fatty Acid Butyrate Attenuates Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling and Inflammation in Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 9916
Author(s):  
Vijaya Karoor ◽  
Derek Strassheim ◽  
Timothy Sullivan ◽  
Alexander Verin ◽  
Nagavedi S. Umapathy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Hypertension ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Right Ventricular ◽  
Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Histone H3 ◽  
Systolic Pressure ◽  
Right Heart Failure ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling ◽  
Ventricular Systolic Pressure

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive cardiovascular disorder in which local vascular inflammation leads to increased pulmonary vascular remodeling and ultimately to right heart failure. The HDAC inhibitor butyrate, a product of microbial fermentation, is protective in inflammatory intestinal diseases, but little is known regarding its effect on extraintestinal diseases, such as PH. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that butyrate is protective in a Sprague–Dawley (SD) rat model of hypoxic PH. Treatment with butyrate (220 mg/kg intake) prevented hypoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), hypoxia-induced increases in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), pulmonary vascular remodeling, and permeability. A reversal effect of butyrate (2200 mg/kg intake) was observed on elevated RVH. Butyrate treatment also increased the acetylation of histone H3, 25–34 kDa, and 34–50 kDa proteins in the total lung lysates of butyrate-treated animals. In addition, butyrate decreased hypoxia-induced accumulation of alveolar (mostly CD68+) and interstitial (CD68+ and CD163+) lung macrophages. Analysis of cytokine profiles in lung tissue lysates showed a hypoxia-induced upregulation of TIMP-1, CINC-1, and Fractalkine and downregulation of soluble ICAM (sICAM). The expression of Fractalkine and VEGFα, but not CINC-1, TIMP-1, and sICAM was downregulated by butyrate. In rat microvascular endothelial cells (RMVEC), butyrate (1 mM, 2 and 24 h) exhibited a protective effect against TNFα- and LPS-induced barrier disruption. Butyrate (1 mM, 24 h) also upregulated tight junctional proteins (occludin, cingulin, claudin-1) and increased the acetylation of histone H3 but not α-tubulin. These findings provide evidence of the protective effect of butyrate on hypoxic PH and suggest its potential use as a complementary treatment for PH and other cardiovascular diseases.

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