Pulmonary Hypertension Promotes Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with neurocognitive deficits and abnormal brain MRI. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying these clinical observations. TDP-43 is a proteinopathy associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Alzheimer's Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In this study, we hypothesize PAH will result in gliosis, reduced neuronal density, and increased TDP-43 mislocalization.

Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to receive Vehicle (DMSO) Monocrotaline, or Sugen/Hypoxia to induce PH. Right heart catheterization was used to confirm PAH. Brain tissue was fixed and probed for microglia (Iba1), astrocytes (GFAP), neurons (NeuN), and TDP-43. Human PH vs control brain tissue was also probed for NeuN and TDP-43.

We identify an increase in microglia and astrocyte density in the frontal cortex along with reduced neuronal density and neuronal TDP-43 mislocalization in rat models of PH. In addition, human PH frontal cortex demonstrated neuronal TDP-43 mislocalization. This is the first evidence of TDP-43 proteinopathy in PH.