Alterations in TGF-beta1 expression in lambs with increased pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary hypertension

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2003 Jul;285(1):L209-21. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00171.2002. Epub 2003 Mar 28.

Abstract

The mechanisms responsible for pulmonary vascular remodeling in congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow remain unclear. We developed a lamb model of congenital heart disease and increased pulmonary blood flow utilizing an in utero placed aortopulmonary vascular graft (shunted lambs). Morphometric analysis of barium-injected pulmonary arteries indicated that by 4 wk of age, shunts had twice the pulmonary arterial density of controls (P < 0.05), and their pulmonary vessels showed increased muscularization and medial thickness at both 4 and 8 wk of age (P < 0.05). To determine the potential role of TGF-beta1 in this vascular remodeling, we investigated vascular changes in expression and localization of TGF-beta1 and its receptors TbetaRI, ALK-1, and TbetaRII in lungs of shunted and control lambs at 1 day and 1, 4, and 8 wk of life. Western blots demonstrated that TGF-beta1 and ALK-1 expression was elevated in shunts compared with control at 1 and 4 wk of age (P < 0.05). In contrast, the antiangiogenic signaling receptor TbetaRI was decreased at 4 wk of age (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated shunts had increased TGF-beta1 and TbetaRI expression in smooth muscle layer and increased TGF-beta1 and ALK-1 in endothelium of small pulmonary arteries at 1 and 4 wk of age. Moreover, TbetaRI expression was significantly reduced in endothelium of pulmonary arteries in the shunt at 1 and 4 wk. Our data suggest that increased pulmonary blood flow dysregulates TGF-beta1 signaling, producing imbalance between pro- and antiangiogenic signaling that may be important in vascular remodeling in shunted lambs.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Activin Receptors, Type I / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / pathology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology*
  • Lung / blood supply
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Pulmonary Artery / pathology
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Circulation / physiology*
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Sheep
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Substances

  • Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Activin Receptors, Type I
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I
  • Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II