Antagonists to endothelin receptor type B promote apoptosis in human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells

Aims: Vascular remodeling results from aberrations in the balance between cell proliferation and death, which is seen in the obstructive vasculature of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Endothelin (ET)-1 has a potent proliferative activity on vascular smooth muscle cells, and ET receptor inhibitors are used to treat PAH; however, it remains unclear whether ET receptor inhibition contributes to the Apoptosis of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), another cause of pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Main methods: Cultured human PASMCs were treated with the ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123 (100μM), or the ETB antagonist A-192621 (1-100μM) or BQ-788 (1-100μM) for 48h. The cells were then incubated for another 24h with or without doxorubicin (DOX, 1μM), an anthracyclin antitumor Antibiotic that promotes p53-mediated Apoptosis. Cell viability and Apoptosis were evaluated by MTT assays, Caspase-3/7 activity assays, and Western blots for cleaved Caspase-3 expression.

Key findings: The viability of PASMCs was significantly decreased by A-192621 and BQ-788, in a dose-dependent manner. A-192621 and BQ-788 significantly increased the Caspase-3/7 activity and cleaved Caspase-3 expression in PASMCs. The PASMCs' susceptibility to DOX-induced Apoptosis was significantly higher in the presence of A-192621 and BQ-788 than with vehicle. However, BQ-123 did not affect these parameters.

Significance: Blockade of the ETB receptor increases the extent of Apoptosis and susceptibility to DOX-induced Apoptosis in PASMCs. Apoptosis caused by ETB receptor blockade in PASMCs may be one of the mechanisms by which vascular remodeling is reduced in ET receptor inhibitor-based PAH treatments.