Effect of all-trans retinoic acid on expression ofα-SMA in rat model with pulmonary hypertension / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives To explore the possible mechanism of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy for pulmonary ar-terial hypertension by observing the effect of ATRA on the expression ofα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced rats with pulmonary hypertension. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into control group, MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension group (model group) and ATRA treatment group (therapeutic group). MCT (60mg/kg) was injected to the rats in the model group and the therapeutic group to induce pulmonary arterial hypertension. And at the same day ATRA [30mg/(kg?d)] was given to rats in the therapeutic group and continually given for 28 days. The mean pulmonary arte-rial pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI), percentage of wall thickness (WT%) and percentage of wall area (WA%) of pulmonary arterioles were evaluated at day 28. The expression ofα-SMA mRNA and protein in the lung tissue were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot. Results Mean pulmonary arterial pressure, RVHI, WT%and WA%were signiif-cantly higher in the model group than those in the therapeutic group (P0.05). Conclusions ATRA has therapeutic effect on pulmonary hypertension through down-regulation ofα-SMA expression.