Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expressing eNOS and a Cav1 Mutant Inhibit Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation in a Rat Model of Pulmonary Hypertension

Background This study aimed to investigate the effect of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) transduced with lentiviral vectors expressing endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and/or a mutant caveolin-1(F92A-Cav1), on the pulmonary haemodynamics and structure in a rat model of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods Pulmonary arterial hypertension was induced with monocrotaline (MCT) in 60 adult male Wistar rats prior to delivery of lentiviral vector transduced rBMSCs expressing Cav1, eNOS and/or F92A-Cav1. Changes in pulmonary haemodynamics, right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI), and serum nitric oxide (NO) were evaluated. Ultrastructure changes in lung tissues were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), p53, P21, eNOS, and alpha-smooth muscle actin were evaluated by real time PCR, western blotting or immunohistochemistry. Results Treatment of PAH rats with gene modified rBMSCs (eNOS +/- Cav1 F92A) decreased right ventricular systolic pressure and improved pulmonary haemodynamics. The protein of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression was decreased whilst KLF4, p53, P21, eNOS expression, and serum NO concentration was elevated. The survival rate of rats in the treatment groups was also improved, after 35 days of observation. Conclusion Intravenous delivery of rBMSCs expressing eNOS/F92A-Cav1 to PAH rats inhibits pulmonary vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and improves pulmonary haemodynamics, vascular remodelling and short-term survival. Activation of KLF4-p53 signalling pathway may be involved in these beneficial effects.