Comhair, Suzy

Aims: Alterations of mitochondrial bioenergetics and arginine metabolism are universally present and mechanistically linked to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but there is little knowledge of arginine metabolism and mitochondrial functions across the different pulmonary hypertension (PH) groups. We hypothesize that abnormalities in mitochondrial functions are present across all PH groups and associated with clinical phenotypes. We test the hypothesis in PH patients and healthy controls from the Pulmonary Vascular Disease Phenomics Program cohort, who had comprehensive clinical phenotyping and follow-up for at least 4 years for death or transplant status. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential, superoxide production, and mass were measured by flow cytometry in fresh platelets. Metabolomics analysis was performed on plasma samples. Global arginine bioavailability was calculated as the ratio of arginine/(ornithine+citrulline). Results: Global arginine bioavailability is consistently lower than controls in all PH groups. Although the mitochondrial mass is similar across all PH groups and controls, superoxide production and transmembrane potential vary across groups. Mitochondrial superoxide is higher in group 1 PAH and lowest in group 3 compared with other groups, while transmembrane potential is lower in group 1 PAH than controls or group 3. The alterations in mitochondrial functions of group 1 PAH are associated with changes in fatty acid metabolism. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential in group 1 PAH is associated with transplant-free survival. Conclusion: While alterations in mitochondrial function are found in all PH groups, group 1 PAH has a unique mitochondrial phenotype with greater superoxide and lower transmembrane potential linked to fatty acid metabolism, and clinically to survival. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 42, 361–377.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by severe remodeling of the pulmonary artery resulting in increased pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular hypertrophy and, ultimately, failure. Bone marrow–derived progenitor cells play a critical role in vascular homeostasis and have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of PAH. A proliferation of c‐Kit+ hematopoietic progenitors and mast cells has been noted in the remodeled vessels in PAH. Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets c‐Kit, has been shown to be beneficial for patients with PAH. Here we hypothesize that the clinical benefit of imatinib in PAH could be related to c‐Kit inhibition of progenitor cell mobilization and maturation into mast cells. As a corollary to the phase 3 study using imatinib in PAH, blood samples were collected from 12 patients prior to starting study drug (baseline) and while on treatment at weeks 4 and 24. Eight were randomized to imatinib and 4 to placebo. Circulating c‐Kit+ and CD34+ CD133+ hematopoietic progenitors as well as biomarkers of mast cell numbers and activation were measured. Circulating CD34+ CD133+ and c‐Kit+ progenitor cells as well as c‐Kit+/CD34+ CD133+ decreased with imatinib therapy (all P < 0.05). In addition, total tryptase, a marker of mast cell load, dropped with imatinib therapy (P = 0.02) and was related to pulmonary vascular resistance (R = 0.7, P = 0.02). The findings support c‐Kit inhibition as a potential mechanism of action of imatinib in PAH and suggest that tryptase is a potential biomarker of response to therapy.