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Pharmacological Targets for Pulmonary Vascular Disease: Vasodilation versus Anti-Remodelling

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Book cover Membrane Receptors, Channels and Transporters in Pulmonary Circulation

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((volume 661))

Abstract

Two gross mechanisms of pathology are central to pulmonary arterial hypertension - increased pulmonary vascular tone and remodelling of the pulmonary arteries. These pathologies can be caused by a variety of aberrant processes, and combine to cause an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and consequent right ventricular hypertrophy, eventually leading to dysfunction and death. Current therapeutic strategies have focused on altering the vasoconstrictive elements of the disease. Whilst improvements in life expectancy have been observed, current therapies have not managed to halt or reverse progression of the disease. Here we discuss said unmet medical need and postulate as to the impact on disease anti-remodelling therapy might provide. The mechanisms of remodelling in pulmonary arterial hypertension are reviewed, and leading examples of potential targets within such mechanisms are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Respiratory Disease Area, Horsham, UK

    Matthew Thomas

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  1. Matthew Thomas
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Correspondence to Matthew Thomas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, 60612, USA

    Jason X. -J. Yuan

  2. Guy’s Hospital Campus, Dept. Physiology, King’s College London, London, SE1 1UL, United Kingdom

    Jeremy P. T. Ward

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© 2010 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Thomas, M. (2010). Pharmacological Targets for Pulmonary Vascular Disease: Vasodilation versus Anti-Remodelling. In: Yuan, JJ., Ward, J. (eds) Membrane Receptors, Channels and Transporters in Pulmonary Circulation. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 661. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-500-2_31

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