Immune Cell Metabolism Changes Linked To Increases In Inflammatory Signaling Molecules In Patients With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Study Finds

Pulmonary Hypertension News (8/13, Wexler) reports, “A study found that changes in immune cell metabolism may underlie increases in inflammatory signaling molecules in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), suggesting that targeting immune cell metabolism could be a treatment strategy for the condition.” The research team “collected blood samples from 20 people with PAH and eight people without the disease.” They observed that “people with PAH had higher levels of HIF-1 alpha and AMPK, two proteins that act as master regulators of cellular metabolism. Levels of several proteins involved in energy production, including some of the so-called OXPHOS complexes, also were higher in immune cells from people with PAH. The researchers found that there were statistically significant associations between the metabolic changes and alterations in inflammatory cytokines.” Considering the results, the researchers speculated “it may be possible to treat PAH by normalizing immune cell metabolism to reduce inflammation.” The study was published in Life Sciences.