Targeting peptidyl-prolyl isomerase 1 in experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterised by pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic phenotype in vascular cells, leading to pulmonary vascular remodelling and right heart failure. Peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA interacting 1 (Pin1), a highly conserved enzyme, which binds to and catalyses the isomerisation of specific phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro motifs, acting as a molecular switch in multiple coordinated cellular processes. We hypothesised that Pin1 plays a substantial role in PAH and its inhibition with a natural organic compound, Juglone, would reverse experimental pulmonary hypertension (PH).We demonstrated that the expression of Pin1 was markedly elevated in experimental PH (i.e. hypoxia induced mouse and Sugen/hypoxia induced rat models) and pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) of patients with clinical PAH. In vitro Pin1 inhibition by either Juglone treatment or siRNA knock-down resulted in an induction of apoptosis and decrease in proliferation of human pulmonary vascular cells. Stimulation with growth factors induced Pin1 expression, while its inhibition reduced the activity of numerous PAH-related transcription factors, such as hypoxia-inducible factor alpha (HIF) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT). Juglone administration lowered pulmonary vascular resistance, enhanced RV function, improved pulmonary vascular and cardiac remodelling in the Sugen/hypoxia rat model of PAH and the chronic hypoxia-induced PH model in mice.Our study demonstrates that targeting of Pin1 with small molecule inhibitor, Juglone, might be an attractive future therapeutic strategy for PAH and right heart disease secondary to PAH.

  • Rai, N.
  • Sydykov, A.
  • Kojonazarov, B.
  • Wilhelm, J.
  • Manaud, G.
  • Veeroju, S.
  • Ruppert, C.
  • Perros, F.
  • Ghofrani, H. A.
  • Weissmann, N.
  • Seeger, W.
  • Schermuly, R. T.
  • Novoyatleva, T.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01698-2021
Journal: Eur Respir J
Work Type: Original
Access number: 35058248
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