Inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis attenuates neonatal hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension

Circ Res. 2009 Jun 5;104(11):1293-301. doi: 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.109.197533. Epub 2009 May 7.

Abstract

Exposure of the neonatal lung to chronic hypoxia produces significant pulmonary vascular remodeling, right ventricular hypertrophy, and decreased lung alveolarization. Given recent data suggesting that stem cells could contribute to pulmonary vascular remodeling and right ventricular hypertrophy, we tested the hypothesis that blockade of SDF-1 (stromal cell-derived factor 1), a key stem cell mobilizer or its receptor, CXCR4 (CXC chemokine receptor 4), would attenuate and reverse hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary remodeling in newborn mice. Neonatal mice exposed to normoxia or hypoxia were randomly assigned to receive daily intraperitoneal injections of normal saline, AMD3100, or anti-SDF-1 antibody from postnatal day 1 to 7 (preventive strategy) or postnatal day 7 to 14 (therapeutic strategy). As compared to normal saline, inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis significantly improved lung alveolarization and decreased pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, vascular remodeling, vascular cell proliferation, and lung or right ventricular stem cell expressions to near baseline values. We therefore conclude that the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis both prevents and reverses hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary remodeling in neonatal mice, by decreasing progenitor cell recruitment to the pulmonary vasculature, as well as by decreasing pulmonary vascular cell proliferation. These data offer novel insights into the role of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in the pathogenesis of neonatal hypoxia-induced cardiopulmonary remodeling and have important therapeutic implications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Benzylamines
  • Bone Marrow Cells / physiology
  • Chemokine CXCL12 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclams
  • Heart Ventricles / drug effects
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / prevention & control*
  • Hypoxia / complications*
  • Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Mice
  • Pulmonary Circulation / physiology
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Systole / drug effects
  • Systole / physiology
  • Ventricular Remodeling / drug effects
  • Ventricular Remodeling / physiology

Substances

  • Benzylamines
  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • CXCR4 protein, mouse
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Cyclams
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • plerixafor