Putative OPG Receptor on Pulmonary Arterial Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Introduction

The pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells are found in the body that maintains the organ dimensions against force. The smooth muscles are found in many places like in the layers of large and small arteries, vein, bladder, uterus, male and female reproductive tracts, respiratory tracts, gastrointestinal tracts, skin, and in the iris of the eye. The smooth muscle cells have been observed and illustrated as a spiral corkscrew fashion and are organized in the axis of cell.

Meanwhile the pulmonary arterials hypertension or PAH is formerly known as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), is characterized by a continuous high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. PAH is a serious condition which there is treatments, but unfortunately considered as no evidence of cure. Treatments, in the other hand, continue to improve dramatically, and numerous patients have been able to live in normal lives.

Background of the Study and Problem Statement

Recent studies have identified up-regulated expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and current data suggest that OPG plays an important role in disease pathogenesis. The proposed project will identify OPG binding partners expressed by pulmonary artery vascular smooth muscle cells, characterize the down-stream signaling pathways and determine their role in disease pathogenesis

Research Objectives

The research is fueled by the following objectives:

· To recognize the project of cure/treatment

· To introduce health awareness

· To promote health and wellness.

Research Questions

The study is guided by the following research questions:

· What are the recognized processes?

· What is the role of OPG?

· How to sustain the treatment for PAH?

Literature Review

Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell migration (PA-SMC) and proliferation are key processes in the pathogenesis of the pulmonary arterials hypertension or PAH. The signaling pathways are important in PAH pathogenesis and yet, remains unclear whether or how the pathways interacts.

The secreted glycoprotein osteoprotegerin (OPG) is also an emerging important regulatory molecule in vascular biology. However, whether OPG is expressed by PA-SMCs within PAH lesions and plays a role in PAH is unknown. Immunohistochemistry of human PAH lesions demonstrated increased OPG expression, and OPG was significantly increased in idiopathic PAH patient serum. Recombinant OPG stimulated proliferation and migration of PA-SMCs in vitro, and BMP-R2 RNA interference increased OPG secretion. Additionally, both 5-HT and interleukin-1 also increased OPG secretion. These data are the first to demonstrate that OPG is increased in PAH and that it can regulate PA-SMC proliferation and migration. OPG may provide a common link between the different pathways associated with the disease, potentially playing an important role in the pathogenesis of PAH

Methodology

The applied methods of the medical professionals to resolve the problems is through the Lung and Serum Samples from Patients with IPAH, Immunohistochemistry, OPG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Cell Culture and Phenotypic Assays, Short Interfering RNA Transfections, and Statistical Analyses. The applied methods are created, crafted and polished to see what is the best thing to do with the PAH.

Analysis

The treatment and the discoveries of cure are not yet ended, indeed, continuous to survive in the world where all the efforts are wasted in the end. But through the thorough understanding of the issues involved in the medicinal world, medical practitioners are very much anticipated and welcomed the newest intervention in medicine. If the medical practitioners will follow the steps and proper procedures in medications, there is a bigger possibility that the answer they seek for many years will be finally answered.

Conclusion

The pursuance of health is not that easy. Many medical practitioners and their intervention failed to fulfill the need of the man to stay healthy. Because of the growing numbers of the toxins and pollutions, the human body is contaminated by the foreign particles, remains there, and not knowing can trigger the death. In todays’ world of medicine, the medical interventions are highly suggested to be successful because of the technology and knowledge of the people who promotes the health and its education.

Consulted Work:

Lawrie, A., Waterman, E., Southwood, M., Evans, D., Suntharalingam, J., Francis, S., Crossman, D., Croucher, P., Morrell, N., & Newman, C., (2008) Evidence of a Role for Osteoprotegerin in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, American Journal of Pathology, 172, (1) [Online] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2189625/ [Accessed 18 Jan 2010].