Abstract 4119280: The role of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor and perivascular macrophages in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening disease caused by pulmonary artery remodeling, inflammation, and altered immune responses. The proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells and the accumulation of perivascular macrophages are crucial factors for the development of pulmonary artery remodeling. However, the mechanism for the progression of pulmonary artery remodeling through the perivascular macrophages has not been fully investigated. In this study, we examined the significance of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), which regulates the differentiation and proliferation of macrophages in PAH. Methods and Results: The numbers of pulmonary arterial perivascular CSF1R-positive cells significantly increased in lungs from PAH patients, compared to controls. The CSF1R phosphorylation on whole lungs was significantly increased in monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH rats and SU5416/Hypoxia (SuHx)-induced PAH mice. Next, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of a CSF1R inhibitor or anti-CSF1R antibody in vivo . Blocking CSF1R with a CSF1R inhibitor or anti-CSF1R antibody significantly decreased right ventricular systolic pressure, right ventricular fibrosis, perivascular CD68-positive macrophages and Arg1-positive M2 macrophages in PAH rats and mice. CSF1R knockdown using antisense oligonucleotide in the lung significantly decreased right ventricular systolic pressure in SuHx-induced PAH mice. Next, we focused on C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) whose gene expression is elevated in macrophages of PAH model. The culture with a conditioned medium from lung-derived M2 macrophages accelerated the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, while adding a CCL2 neutralizing antibody into the conditioned medium inhibited their proliferation. Conclusion: CSF1R has a critical role in the proliferation of pulmonary arterial perivascular macrophages and the progression of PAH, and M2-derived CCL2 contributed to the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells. CSF1R is a novel therapeutic target in PAH.