Vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypes in primary pulmonary hypertension

Vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypes in primary pulmonary hypertension.

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is associated with specific structural alterations, including cellular intimal thickening, intimal fibrosis, and plexiform lesions. To determine the phenotypes of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in such lesions, the authors conducted an immunohistochemical analysis of lung tissues from two patients with PPH, using two antimuscle actin antibodies, HHF35 and CGA7, ...

Hypoxic Pulmonary Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

Linking a serotonin transporter polymorphism to vascular smooth muscle proliferation in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension.

1109 Recent genetic studies in patients with familial and sporadic primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) have provided new opportunities to address the pathophysiologic mechanisms of this disease (1, 2). This past year, mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2) gene have been identified in even a higher proportion of individuals than was first appreciated (3). In addition, m...

NOD2 deficiency exacerbates hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and enhances pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation

Expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2 (NOD2) is upregulated in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) during hypoxia. To investigate the involvement of NOD2 in the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia, we subjected wild-type and NOD2-deficient mice to chronic normobaric hypoxic conditions. Compared to wild-type mice, NOD2-deficient mice developed severe pulm...

[Acute pulmonary hypertension: protective role of vascular smooth muscle activation].

AIM To characterize the buffering function of the pulmonary artery in vivo and to determine the role of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) activation in vessel wall elasticity. MATERIAL AND METHOD Pulmonary artery pressure and diameter were measured in 9 anesthetized sheep. Pulmonary artery hypertension was induced by mechanical occlusion of the pulmonary artery and by phenylephrine infusion (5 mic...