Piezo1 Channel Activation Reverses Pulmonary Artery Vasoconstriction in an Early Rat Model of Pulmonary Hypertension: The Role of Ca²⁺ Influx and Akt-eNOS Pathway.

ABSTRACT: In intrapulmonary arteries (IPAs), mechanical forces due to blood flow control vessel tone, and these forces change during pulmonary hypertension (PH). Piezo1, a stretch-activated calcium channel, is a sensor of mechanical stress present in both endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The present study investigated the role of Piezo1 on IPA in the chronic hypoxia model of PH. Rats were raised in chronically hypoxic conditions for 1 (1W-CH, early stage) or 3 weeks (3W-CH, late-stage) of PH or in normoxic conditions (Nx). Immunofluorescence labeling and patch-clamping revealed the presence of Piezo1 in both ECs and SMCs. The Piezo1 agonist, Yoda1, induced an IPA contraction in Nx and 3W-CH. Conversely, Yoda1 induced an endothelial nitric oxide (eNOS) dependent relaxation in 1

SUBMITTER: Porto Ribeiro T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9367624 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature