Suppression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases may reverse severe pulmonary arterial hypertension

Cytotherapy. 2011 Apr;13(4):499-502. doi: 10.3109/14653249.2010.536215. Epub 2010 Nov 25.

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a fatal disease characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and vascular remodeling leading to right heart failure and early death. The pathology of PAH is associated with endothelium dysfunction and vascular remodeling in pulmonary arteries. In diseased pulmonary arteries, the balance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) is broken down. In this process, TIMP are up-regulated, which inhibits MMP, promotes extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and finally leads to vascular remodeling. So, what would happen to PAH if the expression of TIMP was down-regulated in diseased pulmonary vessels? We hypothesize that the attenuation of TIMP at the advanced stage of PAH might reverse severe PAH, via ameliorating vascular remodeling and endothelium repair.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / metabolism
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / therapy
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
  • Monocrotaline / therapeutic use
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / genetics
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases
  • Monocrotaline
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases