A brief overview of mouse models of pulmonary arterial hypertension: problems and prospects.
Many chronic pulmonary diseases are associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary vascular remodeling, which is a term that continues to be used to describe a wide spectrum of vascular abnormalities. Pulmonary vascular structural changes frequently increase pulmonary vascular resistance, causing PH and right heart failure. Although rat models had been standard models of PH research, in more recent years the availability of genetically engineered mice has made this species attractive for many investigators. Here we review a large amount of data derived from experimental PH reports published since 1996. These studies using wild-type and genetically designed mice illustrate the challenges and opportunities provided by these models. Hemodynamic measurements are difficult to obtain in mice, and right heart failure has not been investigated in mice. Anatomical, cellular, and genetic differences distinguish mice and rats, and pharmacogenomics may explain the degree of PH and the particular mode of pulmonary vascular adaptation and also the response of the right ventricle.
Victoria Johnson Center for Obstructive Lung Disease Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Jose
J
Gomez-Arroyo
Sheinei J
SJ
Saleem
Shiro
S
Mizuno
Aamer A
AA
Syed
Harm J
HJ
Bogaard
Antonio
A
Abbate
Laimute
L
Taraseviciene-Stewart
Yon
Y
Sung
Donatas
D
Kraskauskas
Daniela
D
Farkas
Daniel H
DH
Conrad
Mark R
MR
Nicolls
Norbert F
NF
Voelkel
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling