Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell senescence is a pathogenic mechanism for pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung disease.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Senescence of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PA-SMCs) caused by telomere shortening or oxidative stress may contribute to pulmonary hypertension associated with chronic lung diseases.

Objective

To investigate whether cell senescence contributes to pulmonary vessel remodeling and pulmonary hypertension in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods and results

In 124 patients with COPD investigated by right heart catheterization, we found a negative correlation between leukocyte telomere length and pulmonary hypertension severity. In-depth investigations of lung vessels and derived cultured PA-SMCs showed greater severity of remodeling and increases in senescent p16-positive and p21-positive PA-SMCs and proliferating Ki67-stained cells in 14

SUBMITTER: Noureddine H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3375237 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature