Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease characterized by the vascular remodeling of the pulmonary arterioles, including formation of plexiform and concentric lesions comprised of proliferative endothelial cells. We recently found that disruption of the G protein-coupled receptor signaling axis comprised of the ligand apelin and the receptor APJ leads to significant worsening of hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in mice, and found that the pathway is also perturbed in clinical PAH. To further characterize the downstream endothelial targets which may be utilized by apelin-APJ signaling to protect against the remodeling processes in PAH, we carried out a microRNA (miRNA) array analysis of pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) subjected to knockdown of apelin, APJ, or both. We identified two miRNAs (miR-424 and miR-503) that are highly expressed in PAECs, but are significantly downregulated in the context of apelin/APJ knockdown. Remarkably, these miRNAs are also markedly decreased in the experimental monocrotaline rat model of PH, as well as in PAECs isolated from patients with clinically diagnosed PAH. Our in vitro functional studies demonstrated that both miR-424 and miR-503 exert anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic effects, via a mechanism that at least in part involves targeting of the FGF signaling pathway. We found that restoration of miR-424/503 expression in the monocrotaline induced model of PH by intranasal lentiviral delivery can significantly ameliorate the severity of the disease. Based o these preliminary data, we hypothesize that miR-424/503 play a critical role in maintaining pulmonary vascular homeostasis, and that disruption of their expression serves a critical contribution to the aberrant endothelial proliferation which is a hallmark of PAH. We propose the following aims to further evaluate the role of miR-424/503 in PAH: 1) Determine the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of miR-424/503 in PAECs that involves targeting of the myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) by apelin-APJ signaling, 2) Evaluate the efficacy of endothelial specific expression of miR-424/503 in experimental models of PH, and 3) Further validate the role for miR-424/503 in clinical PAH.

Public Health Relevance

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a syndrome in which remodeling of the pulmonary arteries and increased pulmonary vascular resistance result in right ventricular failure, and if untreated ultimately leads to death. The limited existing therapies have improved outcome but mortality remains exceedingly high (up to 45% mortality at 3 years after diagnosis). We seek to define a novel microRNA based molecular mechanism that may be a key determinant of the disease process that will lead to better understanding of the mechanism of PAH and may ultimately identify novel pathways that can serve as therapeutic targets.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL113005-01A1
Application #
8397188
Study Section
Respiratory Integrative Biology and Translational Research Study Section (RIBT)
Program Officer
Moore, Timothy M
Project Start
2012-09-01
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$415,000
Indirect Cost
$165,000
Name
Yale University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Sofer, Avraham; Lee, Seyoung; Papangeli, Irinna et al. (2018) Therapeutic Engagement of the Histone Deacetylase IIA-Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 Axis Improves Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 198:1345-1348
Papangeli, Irinna; Chun, Hyung J (2017) A Tale of Two Elabela Null Mice. Trends Endocrinol Metab 28:759-760
Chun, Hyung J; Bonnet, Sebastien; Chan, Stephen Y (2017) Reply: Transforming Growth Factor ?1- and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/PPAR?-regulated MicroRNAs in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 196:1228-1229
Hwangbo, Cheol; Wu, Jingxia; Papangeli, Irinna et al. (2017) Endothelial APLNR regulates tissue fatty acid uptake and is essential for apelin's glucose-lowering effects. Sci Transl Med 9:
Chun, Hyung J; Bonnet, Sébastien; Chan, Stephen Y (2017) Translational Advances in the Field of Pulmonary Hypertension. Translating MicroRNA Biology in Pulmonary Hypertension. It Will Take More Than ""miR"" Words. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 195:167-178
Ceneri, Nicolle; Zhao, Lina; Young, Bryan D et al. (2017) Rac2 Modulates Atherosclerotic Calcification by Regulating Macrophage Interleukin-1? Production. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 37:328-340
Hwangbo, Cheol; Lee, Heon-Woo; Kang, Hyeseon et al. (2017) Modulation of Endothelial Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type 2 Activity by Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Circulation 135:2288-2298
Li, Na; Hwangbo, Cheol; Jaba, Irina M et al. (2016) miR-182 Modulates Myocardial Hypertrophic Response Induced by Angiogenesis in Heart. Sci Rep 6:21228
Papangeli, Irinna; Kim, Jongmin; Maier, Inna et al. (2016) MicroRNA 139-5p coordinates APLNR-CXCR4 crosstalk during vascular maturation. Nat Commun 7:11268
Chun, Hyung J; Yu, Paul B (2015) Elafin in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Beyond targeting elastases. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 191:1217-9

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