Korean J Pathol.  1999 Aug;33(8):545-554.

Expression of TGF-beta and PDGF in Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats

• Cho MS
• Cho SH
• Yang WI
• Han WS

Abstract

Pulmonary vascular hypertension is characterized by migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells accompanying abnormal synthesis and accumulation of extracellular proteins in vascular wall. The aim of this study is to define the role of endogneous TGF-betas and PDGF in the process of remodeling vessels through determining the temporal and spatial distribution of these growth factors in hypertensive pulmonary vessels in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rat. Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed 12 hours, 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, and 56 days after treatment. The morphometric analysis of medial thickening and immunohistochemical study using antibodies to TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, and PDGF were performed. Immunoreactivities for TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta3 were increased from the 14th day in the medial smooth muscle cells and PDGF showed increased expression from the 21st day in the medial smooth muscle cells. No difference in TGF-beta2 immunoreactivity was found between control and experimental groups. The expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta3 and PDGF increased in medial layers with the progressive thickening of pulmonary arteries which was considered to have close relation to medial hypertrophy of pulmonary arterioles. In the case of PDGF, however, the morphologic change occurred before increase in immunoreactivity was observed in the medial layer of pulmonary arterioles. Moreover, the function of isoforms of TGF-beta has yet to be completely elucidated; the different affinity to receptors and the degree of expression of these receptors that are supposed to affect the function of growth factors. Thus, further studies are needed.

Keyword

Pulmonary hypertension; Monocrotaline; TGF-beta; hypertension, Monocrotaline, TGF-beta, PDGF; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antibodies
Arterioles
Hypertension
Hypertension, Pulmonary*
Hypertrophy
Immunohistochemistry
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Monocrotaline
Myocytes, Smooth Muscle
Protein Isoforms
Pulmonary Artery
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Transforming Growth Factor beta*
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factor beta2
Transforming Growth Factor beta3
Antibodies
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
Monocrotaline
Protein Isoforms
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factor beta2
Transforming Growth Factor beta3