The transforming growth factor-β-bone morphogenetic protein type signalling pathway in pulmonary vascular homeostasis and disease

Exp Physiol. 2013 Aug;98(8):1262-6. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2012.069104. Epub 2013 May 3.

Abstract

Germ-line mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR2; BMPR-II) gene, a transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) receptor superfamily member, cause the majority of cases of heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a subset of pulmonary hypertension (PH) disorders, which also encompass hypoxia-related lung diseases. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), via BMPR-II, activate the canonical Smad1/5/9 pathway, whereas TGFβs (TGFβ1-3) activate the Smad2/3 pathway via the ALK5 receptor. Dysregulated TGFβ1 signalling is pathogenic in fibrotic diseases. We compared two rat PH models, monocrotaline-induced PAH (MCT-PAH) and chronic normobaric hypoxia (fractional inspired O2 10%), to address whether BMPR-II loss is common to PH and permits pathogenic TGFβ1 signalling. Both models exhibited reduced lung BMPR-II expression, but increased TGFβ1 signalling and decreased BMP signalling were observed only in MCT-PAH. Furthermore, a pharmacological ALK5 inhibitor prevented disease progression in the MCT-PAH model, but not in hypoxia. In vitro studies using human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells showed that TGFβ1 directly inhibits BMP-Smad signalling. In conclusion, BMPR-II loss is common to the hypoxic and MCT-PAH models, but systemic ALK5 inhibition is effective only in the MCT model, highlighting a specific role for TGFβ1 in vascular remodelling in MCT-PAH, potentially via direct inhibition of BMP signalling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / metabolism*
  • Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Homeostasis / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / metabolism
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Hypoxia / metabolism
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Artery / metabolism
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiology*
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiopathology*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*

Substances

  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II