[Study on the chemotaxis and DNA synthesis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of hypoxia on the proliferation and migration of pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cells (PVSMC), and whether migration of PASMC is involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary vascular remodeling associated with hypoxia.

METHODS

In this study, the effect of PDGF, ANP and hypoxia on DNA synthesis and chemotaxis of cultured neonatal calf pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) is investigated by 3H-thymidine incorporation and measurement of cell migration using a 48-well Boyden chamber respectively.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that hypoxia could stimulate DNA synthesis and chemotaxis of PASMC induced by PDGF; ANP could inhibit DNA synthesis and chemotaxis of PASMC by a cGMP dependent pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

It is suggested that PDGF, ANP and hypoxia play important roles in regulating the proliferation and migration of PASMC, which is important in the pathogenesis of hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling.