Vascular peroxidase 1 promotes phenotypic transformation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells via ERK pathway in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats

Vascular peroxidase 1 (VPO1) plays an important role in mediation of vascular remodeling with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study aims to determine whether VPO1 can promote phenotypic transformation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the underlying mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to 10 % O2 for 21 days to establish the model of vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension. PASMCs were incubated with 3 % O2 for 48 h to induce phenotypic transformation. Western blot was performed to detect the expressions of target proteins. The 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay was conducted to measure the proliferation of PASMCs. In the rats exposed to hypoxia, there were increases in right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary vascular remodeling and phenotypic transformation of PASMCs (the down-regulated contractile proteins of α-smooth muscle actin, smooth muscle 22α while the up-regulated synthetic proteins of osteopontin, cyclinD1), accompanied by up-regulation of VPO1, increase of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) production and elevation of the phosphorylation of ERK. In the cultured PASMCs exposed to hypoxia, similar results were achieved but they were reversed by VPO1 small interfering RNA (VPO1 siRNA) or HOCl inhibitor. Replacement of hypoxia with NaOCl could induce PASMCs phenotypic transformation and activate the ERK signaling. Furthermore, ERK inhibitor (PD98059) could also attenuate hypoxia-induced PASMCs phenotypic transformation. VPO1 play a pivotal role in promotion of phenotypic transformation of PASMCs under hypoxic condition through activation of VPO1/HOCl/ERK pathway. It might serve as a potential target for prevention of pulmonary vascular remodeling.