PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro

BackgroundThe co-occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is linked to a more unfavorable prognosis and increased mortality compared to PF cases without PH. Early intervention and comprehensive management are pivotal for improving survival outcomes. Proprote...

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Main Authors: Jiancheng Lin, Zetao Pan, Jiayan Sun, Xiaowan Wang, Di Yin, Cunyang Huo, Qiang Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1509168/full
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author Jiancheng Lin
Jiancheng Lin
Jiancheng Lin
Zetao Pan
Zetao Pan
Zetao Pan
Jiayan Sun
Jiayan Sun
Jiayan Sun
Xiaowan Wang
Xiaowan Wang
Xiaowan Wang
Di Yin
Di Yin
Di Yin
Cunyang Huo
Cunyang Huo
Cunyang Huo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
author_facet Jiancheng Lin
Jiancheng Lin
Jiancheng Lin
Zetao Pan
Zetao Pan
Zetao Pan
Jiayan Sun
Jiayan Sun
Jiayan Sun
Xiaowan Wang
Xiaowan Wang
Xiaowan Wang
Di Yin
Di Yin
Di Yin
Cunyang Huo
Cunyang Huo
Cunyang Huo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
author_sort Jiancheng Lin
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe co-occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is linked to a more unfavorable prognosis and increased mortality compared to PF cases without PH. Early intervention and comprehensive management are pivotal for improving survival outcomes. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a protein essential in cholesterol metabolism. However, the potential for PCSK9 inhibition to alleviate PF-induced PH has not been previously reported.MethodsA mouse model of PF-induced PH was established using intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM), followed by administration of a PCSK9 inhibitor every other day. Data on right ventricle (RV) remodeling and changes in pulmonary arteries were collected and analyzed. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) was also administered to MLE-12 cells as an experimental lung fibrosis model. The mechanisms of PCSK9’s impact on lung fibrosis were examined both in vivo and in vitro.ResultsInhibition of PCSK9 significantly reduced pulmonary artery thickening and RV remodeling in the BLM-induced mouse model. Moreover, the blockage of PCSK9 effectively attenuated the migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of TGF-β-induced MLE-12 cells. We also observed that the PCSK9 inhibitor suppressed the expression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in both animal and cell experiments.ConclusionPCSK9 plays a crucial role in the progression of PF-induced PH by regulating cell EMT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Targeting PCSK9 expression or activity could effectively control lung fibrosis and its PH complication.
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spelling doaj-art-5260c70cb15f43b888fac1ccbc9df3f52025-08-20T02:49:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2024-12-011110.3389/fmed.2024.15091681509168PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitroJiancheng Lin0Jiancheng Lin1Jiancheng Lin2Zetao Pan3Zetao Pan4Zetao Pan5Jiayan Sun6Jiayan Sun7Jiayan Sun8Xiaowan Wang9Xiaowan Wang10Xiaowan Wang11Di Yin12Di Yin13Di Yin14Cunyang Huo15Cunyang Huo16Cunyang Huo17Qiang Guo18Qiang Guo19Qiang Guo20Qiang Guo21Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (Suzhou Dushu Lake Hospital), Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaMedical Center of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaThe First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, ChinaBackgroundThe co-occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is linked to a more unfavorable prognosis and increased mortality compared to PF cases without PH. Early intervention and comprehensive management are pivotal for improving survival outcomes. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a protein essential in cholesterol metabolism. However, the potential for PCSK9 inhibition to alleviate PF-induced PH has not been previously reported.MethodsA mouse model of PF-induced PH was established using intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM), followed by administration of a PCSK9 inhibitor every other day. Data on right ventricle (RV) remodeling and changes in pulmonary arteries were collected and analyzed. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) was also administered to MLE-12 cells as an experimental lung fibrosis model. The mechanisms of PCSK9’s impact on lung fibrosis were examined both in vivo and in vitro.ResultsInhibition of PCSK9 significantly reduced pulmonary artery thickening and RV remodeling in the BLM-induced mouse model. Moreover, the blockage of PCSK9 effectively attenuated the migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of TGF-β-induced MLE-12 cells. We also observed that the PCSK9 inhibitor suppressed the expression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in both animal and cell experiments.ConclusionPCSK9 plays a crucial role in the progression of PF-induced PH by regulating cell EMT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Targeting PCSK9 expression or activity could effectively control lung fibrosis and its PH complication.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1509168/fullpulmonary fibrosispulmonary hypertensionPCSK9EMTWntβ-catenin
spellingShingle Jiancheng Lin
Jiancheng Lin
Jiancheng Lin
Zetao Pan
Zetao Pan
Zetao Pan
Jiayan Sun
Jiayan Sun
Jiayan Sun
Xiaowan Wang
Xiaowan Wang
Xiaowan Wang
Di Yin
Di Yin
Di Yin
Cunyang Huo
Cunyang Huo
Cunyang Huo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
Qiang Guo
PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
Frontiers in Medicine
pulmonary fibrosis
pulmonary hypertension
PCSK9
EMT
Wnt
β-catenin
title PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
title_full PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
title_fullStr PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
title_full_unstemmed PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
title_short PCSK9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis-induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition by suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
title_sort pcsk9 inhibitor alleviates experimental pulmonary fibrosis induced pulmonary hypertension via attenuating epithelial mesenchymal transition by suppressing wnt β catenin signaling in vivo and in vitro
topic pulmonary fibrosis
pulmonary hypertension
PCSK9
EMT
Wnt
β-catenin
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1509168/full
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