van Albada M E, du Marchie Sarvaas G J, Koster J, Houwertjes M C, Berger R M F, Schoemaker R G
Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Eur Respir J. 2008 Jan;31(1):126-34. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00035607. Epub 2007 Sep 26.
Erythropoietin (EPO) mobilises endothelial progenitor cells and promotes neovascularisation in heart failure. The present authors studied the effects of EPO on pulmonary vascular and cardiac remodelling in a model for flow-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). PAH was induced in adult male Wistar rats by the injection of monocrotaline combined with an abdominal aortocaval shunt 1 week later (PAH or experimental group). Immediately afterwards, rats were randomised into those who received treatment with EPO (PAH+EPO group) and controls. Pulmonary and systemic haemodynamics, and right ventricular and pulmonary vascular remodelling were evaluated 3 weeks later. Vascular occlusion of the intra-acinar pulmonary vessels (13.4+/-0.7 versus 16.7+/-1.3% in PAH+EPO and PAH, respectively) and medial wall thickness of the pre-acinar arteries (wall-to-lumen ratio 0.13+/-0.01 versus 0.17+/-0.01 in PAH+EPO and PAH, respectively) decreased after treatment with EPO. Moreover, right ventricular capillary density was increased by therapy (2,322+/-61 versus 2,100+/-63 capillaries x mm(-2) in PAH+EPO and PAH, respectively). Increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure and decreased right ventricular contractility in the model were not altered by EPO treatment. In this rat model of flow-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension, erythropoietin treatment beneficially affected pulmonary vascular and cardiac remodelling. These histopathological effects were not accompanied by significantly improved haemodynamics.
促红细胞生成素（EPO）可动员内皮祖细胞并促进心力衰竭时的新血管形成。本研究作者在血流相关性肺动脉高压（PAH）模型中研究了EPO对肺血管和心脏重塑的影响。成年雄性Wistar大鼠通过注射野百合碱并在1周后进行腹主动脉腔静脉分流诱导PAH（PAH组或实验组）。之后，大鼠立即被随机分为接受EPO治疗的组（PAH + EPO组）和对照组。3周后评估肺和全身血流动力学以及右心室和肺血管重塑。EPO治疗后，腺泡内肺血管的血管闭塞（PAH + EPO组和PAH组分别为13.4±0.7%和16.7±1.3%）以及腺泡前动脉的中膜厚度（PAH + EPO组和PAH组的壁腔比分别为0.13±0.01和0.17±0.01）降低。此外，治疗使右心室毛细血管密度增加（PAH + EPO组和PAH组分别为2322±61和2100±63根毛细血管×mm-2）。模型中平均肺动脉压升高和右心室收缩力降低并未因EPO治疗而改变。在这个血流相关性肺动脉高压大鼠模型中，促红细胞生成素治疗对肺血管和心脏重塑产生了有益影响。这些组织病理学效应并未伴随血流动力学的显著改善。
