Impact of nitrate therapy on the expression of caveolin-1 and its phosphorylated isoform in lungs in the model of monocrotaline induced pulmonary hypertension

Aim: Nitric oxide signalling pathway showed to be one of the crucial factors in the treatment and pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of administration of inorganic nitrate, NaNO₃, on the expression of caveolin-1 and its phosphorylated isoform (pTyr14Cav-1) in lungs in the experimental model of monocrotaline induced pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: 10 weeks old male Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with 60 mg/kg dose of monocrotaline (MCT) or vehicle (CON). Twelve days after the injection, part of the MCT group was receiving 0.3 mM NaNO₃ (MCT+N0.3) daily in the drinking water and rest was receiving 0.08% NaCl solution. Four weeks after MCT administration, the rats were sacrificed in CO₂. Protein expression in lungs was determined by western blot.

Results: We observed a significant decrease in the caveolin-1 expression and a significant shift towards the expression of pTyr14Cav-1 in the group treated with nitrate (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: NaNO₃ administration affected the expression of caveolin-1 and the ratio of its active (phosphorylated) isoform increased.