Upregulation of mechanosensitive channel Piezo1 involved in high shear stress-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Piezo1 is an important mechanosensitive channel implicated in vascular remodeling. However, the role of Piezo1 in different types of vascular cells during the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) induced by high shear stress is largely unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We used a rat PH model established by left pulmonary artery ligation (LPAL, for 2-5 weeks), which mimics the high flow and hemodynamic stress, to study Piezo1 contribution to pulmonary vascular remodeling.

RESULTS:

Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), a surrogate measure for pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, and right ventricular wall thickness, a measure for right ventricular hypertrophy, were significantly increased in LPAL rats compared with Sham-control (SHAM) rats. Rats in LPAL-5w groups developed remarkable pulmonary vascular remodeling, while phenylephrine-induced contraction and acetylcholine-induced relaxation were both significantly inhibited in these rats. Upregulation of Piezo1, in association with increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]cyt), was observed in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) from LPAL-2w and LPAL-5w rats in comparison to the SHAM controls. Piezo1 upregulation in PASMCs from LPAL rats was directly related to Yes-associated protein (YAP)/ TEA domain transcription factor 4 (TEAD4). Piezo1 expression was also upregulated in the whole-lung tissue of LPAL rats. The endothelial upregulation of Piezo1 was related to transcriptional regulation by RELA (p65) and lung inflammation.

CONCLUSION:

The upregulation of Piezo1 in both PASMCs and ECs coordinates with each other via different cell signaling pathways to cause pulmonary vascular remodeling in LPAL-PH rats, providing novel insights into the cell-type specific pathogenic roles of Piezo1 in shear stress-associated experimental PH.

• Authors: Jiyuan Chen, Jinrui Miao, Dansha Zhou, Jing Liao, Ziyi Wang, Ziying Lin, Chenting Zhang, Xiaoyun Luo, Yi Li, Xiang Li, Shiyun Liu, Yue Xing, Zizhou Zhang, Manjia Zhao, Sophia Parmisano, Yuqin Chen, Jason X-J Yuan, Kai Yang, Dejun Sun, Jian Wang
• Journal: Thrombosis research (Thromb Res) Vol. 218 Pg. 52-63 (Oct 2022) ISSN: 1879-2472 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35988445 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Acetylcholine
• Membrane Proteins
• Phenylephrine
• Piezo1 protein, rat
• Transcription Factor 4
• YAP-Signaling Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Rats
• Acetylcholine (metabolism)
• Cell Proliferation
• Hypertension, Pulmonary (etiology)
• Membrane Proteins (metabolism)
• Muscle, Smooth, Vascular (metabolism, pathology)
• Phenylephrine (metabolism)
• Pulmonary Artery (pathology)
• Transcription Factor 4 (metabolism)
• Up-Regulation
• Vascular Remodeling
• YAP-Signaling Proteins