Project description:Right ventricular heart failure (RVF) associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by a distinct gene expression pattern when compared with functional compensatory hypertrophy. Carvedilol treatment after RVF has been established reduces right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy and improves the RV function. In addition, carvedilol treatment has been shown to alter the gene expression of select genes. We sought to identify, on a genome-wide basis, the effect of carvedilol on gene expression. RVF was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by the combination of VEGF-receptor blockade and chronic hypoxia; thereafter, one group was treated with carvedilol. RNA was isolated from the RV and subjected to microarray analysis. A prediction analysis of the carvedilol-treated RVs showed that carvedilol treated RVs most resembled in their expression pattern the RVF pattern. However, an analysis beyond the boundaries of the prediction set revealed a small set of genes associated with carvedilol reversal of RVF. Pathway analysis of this set of genes revealed expression changes of genes involved in cardiac hypertrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein ubiquitination, and sphingolipid metabolism. Genes encoding proteins in the cardiac hypertrophy and protein ubiquitination pathways were downregulated in the RV by carvedilol, while genes encoding proteins in the mitochondrial dysfunction and sphingolipid metabolism pathways were upregulated by carvedilol.
Project description:17β-estradiol (E2) exerts complex and context-dependent effects in pulmonary hypertension. In hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH), E2 attenuates lung vascular remodeling through estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent effects; however, ER target genes in the hypoxic lung remain unknown. In order to identify the genome regulated by the E2-ER axis in the hypoxic lung, we performed a microarray analysis in lungs from HPH rats treated with E2 (75 mcg/kg/d) ± ER-antagonist ICI182,780 (3 mg/kg/d). Untreated HPH rats and normoxic rats served as controls. Using a false discovery rate of 10%, we identified a significantly differentially regulated genome in E2-treated vs. untreated hypoxia rats. Genes most up-regulated by E2 encoded matrix metalloproteinase 8, S100 calcium binding protein A8, and IgA Fc receptor; genes most down-regulated by E2 encoded olfactory receptor 63, secreted frizzled-related protein 2, and thrombospondin 2. Several genes affected by E2 changed in the opposite direction after ICI182,780 co-treatment, indicating an ER-regulated genome in HPH lungs. The bone morphogenetic protein antagonist Grem1 (gremlin 1) was up-regulated by hypoxia, but found to be among the most down-regulated genes after E2 treatment. Gremlin 1 protein was reduced in E2-treated vs. untreated hypoxic animals, and ER-blockade abolished the inhibitory effect of E2 on Grem1 mRNA and protein. In conclusion, E2 ER-dependently regulates several genes involved in proliferative and inflammatory processes during hypoxia. Gremlin 1 is a novel target of the E2-ER axis in HPH. Understanding the mechanisms of E2 gene regulation in HPH may allow for selectively harnessing beneficial transcriptional activities of E2 for therapeutic purposes.
Project description:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by arteriopathy in the small to medium-sized distal pulmonary arteries, often accompanied by infiltration of inflammatory cells. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a nuclear receptor/transcription factor, detoxifies xenobiotics and regulates the differentiation and function of various immune cells. However, the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH is largely unknown. Here, we explore the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH. AHR agonistic activity in serum was significantly higher in PAH patients than in healthy volunteer and was associated with poor prognosis of PAH. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with the potent endogenous AHR agonist, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole in combination with hypoxia develop severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) with plexiform-like lesions, whereas SD rats treated with the potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors did not. Ahr-knockout (Ahr-/-) rats generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system did not develop PH in the SU5416/hypoxia model. A diet containing Qing-Dai, a Chinese herbal drug, in combination with hypoxia led to development of PH in Ahr+/+ rats, but not in Ahr-/- rats. RNA-seq analysis, ChIP-seq analysis, immunohistochemical analysis, and bone marrow transplantation experiments shows that activation of several inflammatory signaling pathways were upregulated in endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which led to infiltration of CD4+ IL-21+ T cells and MRC1+ macrophages into vascular lesions in an AHR-dependent manner. Taken together, AHR plays crucial roles in the development and progression of PAH and the AHR signaling pathway represents a promising novel therapeutic target for PAH
Project description:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by arteriopathy in the small to medium-sized distal pulmonary arteries, often accompanied by infiltration of inflammatory cells. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a nuclear receptor/transcription factor, detoxifies xenobiotics and regulates the differentiation and function of various immune cells. However, the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH is largely unknown. Here, we explore the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH. AHR agonistic activity in serum was significantly higher in PAH patients than in healthy volunteer and was associated with poor prognosis of PAH. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with the potent endogenous AHR agonist, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole in combination with hypoxia develop severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) with plexiform-like lesions, whereas SD rats treated with the potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors did not. Ahr-knockout (Ahr-/-) rats generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system did not develop PH in the SU5416/hypoxia model. A diet containing Qing-Dai, a Chinese herbal drug, in combination with hypoxia led to development of PH in Ahr+/+ rats, but not in Ahr-/- rats. RNA-seq analysis, ChIP-seq analysis, immunohistochemical analysis, and bone marrow transplantation experiments shows that activation of several inflammatory signaling pathways were upregulated in endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which led to infiltration of CD4+ IL-21+ T cells and MRC1+ macrophages into vascular lesions in an AHR-dependent manner. Taken together, AHR plays crucial roles in the development and progression of PAH and the AHR signaling pathway represents a promising novel therapeutic target for PAH
Project description:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by arteriopathy in the small to medium-sized distal pulmonary arteries, often accompanied by infiltration of inflammatory cells. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a nuclear receptor/transcription factor, detoxifies xenobiotics and regulates the differentiation and function of various immune cells. However, the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH is largely unknown. Here, we explore the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH. AHR agonistic activity in serum was significantly higher in PAH patients than in healthy volunteer and was associated with poor prognosis of PAH. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with the potent endogenous AHR agonist, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole in combination with hypoxia develop severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) with plexiform-like lesions, whereas SD rats treated with the potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors did not. Ahr-knockout (Ahr-/-) rats generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system did not develop PH in the SU5416/hypoxia model. A diet containing Qing-Dai, a Chinese herbal drug, in combination with hypoxia led to development of PH in Ahr+/+ rats, but not in Ahr-/- rats. RNA-seq analysis, ChIP-seq analysis, immunohistochemical analysis, and bone marrow transplantation experiments shows that activation of several inflammatory signaling pathways were upregulated in endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which led to infiltration of CD4+ IL-21+ T cells and MRC1+ macrophages into vascular lesions in an AHR-dependent manner. Taken together, AHR plays crucial roles in the development and progression of PAH and the AHR signaling pathway represents a promising novel therapeutic target for PAH
Project description:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by arteriopathy in the small to medium-sized distal pulmonary arteries, often accompanied by infiltration of inflammatory cells. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a nuclear receptor/transcription factor, detoxifies xenobiotics and regulates the differentiation and function of various immune cells. However, the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH is largely unknown. Here, we explore the role of AHR in the pathogenesis of PAH. AHR agonistic activity in serum was significantly higher in PAH patients than in healthy volunteer and was associated with poor prognosis of PAH. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats treated with the potent endogenous AHR agonist, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole in combination with hypoxia develop severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) with plexiform-like lesions, whereas SD rats treated with the potent vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 inhibitors did not. Ahr-knockout (Ahr-/-) rats generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system did not develop PH in the SU5416/hypoxia model. A diet containing Qing-Dai, a Chinese herbal drug, in combination with hypoxia led to development of PH in Ahr+/+ rats, but not in Ahr-/- rats. RNA-seq analysis, ChIP-seq analysis, immunohistochemical analysis, and bone marrow transplantation experiments shows that activation of several inflammatory signaling pathways were upregulated in endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which led to infiltration of CD4+ IL-21+ T cells and MRC1+ macrophages into vascular lesions in an AHR-dependent manner. Taken together, AHR plays crucial roles in the development and progression of PAH and the AHR signaling pathway represents a promising novel therapeutic target for PAH