Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Videomorphometric Analysis of Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction of Intra-pulmonary Arteries Using Murine Precision Cut Lung Slices
Published on: January 14, 2014
Transferrin Receptor 1 in Chronic Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling
Yoshiro Naito1, Manami Hosokawa2, Hisashi Sawada2
1Cardiovascular Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan; ynaito@hyo-med.ac.jp.
Background:
Iron is associated with the pathophysiology of several cardiovascular diseases, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). In addition, disrupted pulmonary iron homeostasis has been reported in several chronic lung diseases. Transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) plays a key role in cellular iron transport. However, the role of TfR1 in the pathophysiology of PH has not been well characterized. In this study, we investigate the role of TfR1 in the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling.
Methods:
PH was induced by exposing wild-type (WT) mice and TfR1 hetero knockout mice to hypoxia for 4 weeks and evaluated via assessment of pulmonary vascular remodeling, right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure, and RV hypertrophy. In addition, we assessed the functional role of TfR1 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in vitro.
Results:
The morphology of pulmonary arteries did not differ between WT mice and TfR1 hetero knockout mice under normoxic conditions. In contrast, TfR1 hetero knockout mice exposed to 4 weeks hypoxia showed attenuated pulmonary vascular remodeling, RV systolic pressure, and RV hypertrophy compared with WT mice. In addition, the depletion of TfR1 by RNA interference attenuated human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells proliferation induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in vitro.
Conclusions:
These results suggest that TfR1 plays an important role in the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Acute Respiratory Failure-II
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin
Oxygen Transport in the Blood

