Smooth muscle proliferation and role of the prostacyclin (IP) receptor in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Prostacyclin analogs, used to treat idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), are assumed to work through prostacyclin (IP) receptors linked to cyclic AMP (cAMP) generation, although the potential to signal through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) exists.

Objectives

IP receptor and PPARγ expression may be depressed in IPAH. We wished to determine if pathways remain functional and if analogs continue to inhibit smooth muscle proliferation.

Methods

We used Western blotting to determine IP receptor expression in peripheral pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from normal and IPAH lungs and immunohistochemistry to evaluate IP receptor and PPARγ expression in distal arteries.

Measurements and main results

Cell prolif

SUBMITTER: Falcetti E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3001258 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature