Inhibiting pyruvate kinase muscle isoform 2 regresses group 2 pulmonary hypertension induced by supra‐coronary aortic banding. (17th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xiong, Ping Yu; Motamed, Mehras; Chen, Kuang‐Hueih; Dasgupta, Asish; Potus, François; Tian, Lian; Martin, Ashley; Mewburn, Jeffrey; Jones, Oliver; Thébaud, Arthur; Archer, Stephen L.
• Is Part Of: Acta physiologica. Volume 234:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-01-17
• Subjects: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction -- left ventricular hypertrophy -- pyruvate kinase muscle isoform 2 -- right ventricular hypertrophy aortic stenosis -- shikonin -- uncoupled glycolysis; Physiology -- Periodicals; Physiology -- Research -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.1111/apha.13764
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1748-1708

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Group 2 pulmonary hypertension (PH) has no approved PH‐targeted therapy. Metabolic remodelling, specifically a biventricular increase in pyruvate kinase muscle (PKM) isozyme 2 to 1 ratio, occurs in rats with group 2 PH induced by supra‐coronary aortic banding (SAB). We hypothesize that increased PKM2/PKM1 is maladaptive and inhibiting PKM2 would improve right ventricular (RV) function. Methods: Male, Sprague‐Dawley SAB rats were confirmed to have PH by echocardiography and then randomized to treatment with a PKM2 inhibitor (intraperitoneal shikonin, 2 mg/kg/day) versus 5% DMSO (n = 5/group) or small interfering RNA‐targeting PKM2 (siPKM2) versus siRNA controls (n = 7/group) by airway nebulization. Results: Shikonin‐treated SAB rats had milder PH (PAAT 32.1 ± 1.3 vs 22.1 ± 1.2 ms, P = .0009) and lower RV systolic pressure (RVSP) (31.5 ± 0.9 vs 55.7 ± 1.9 mm Hg, P < .0001) versus DMSO‐SAB rats. siPKM2 nebulization reduced PKM2 expression in the RV, increased PAAT (31.7 ± 0.7 vs 28.0 ± 1.3 ms, P = .025), lowered RVSP (30.6 ± 2.6 vs 42.0 ± 4.0 mm Hg, P = .032) and reduced diastolic RVFW thickness (0.69 ± 0.04 vs 0.85 ± 0.06 mm, P = .046). Both shikonin and siPKM2 regressed PH‐induced medial hypertrophy of small pulmonary arteries. Conclusion: Increases in PKM2/PKM1 in the RV contribute to RV dysfunction in group 2 PH. Chemical or molecular inhibition of PKM2 restores the normal PKM2/PKM1 ratio, reduces PH, RVSP and RVH and regresses adverse PA remodelling. PKM2 merits consideration as a therapeutic cardiac target for group 2 PH.