Cell signalling in pulmonary vascular cells: do not shoot the messenger!

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension is associated with pulmonary vascular remodelling, rendering the vessels unresponsive to vasodilators. An understanding of the mechanisms which cause this remodelling is required, which is likely to be linked to changes in vascular tone whether stimulated by hypoxia or other factors. One way to approach this is to try to understand the intracellular signalling pathways associated with hypoxia in pulmonary artery cells. This understanding could provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention using agents which will interfere with the signalling systems.