Preventive effect of LCZ696 on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats via regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is a devastating disease worldwide; however, effective therapeutic drugs are lacking. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of LCZ696 treatment on hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were kept in a hypobaric chamber with an oxygen concentration of 5% for 4 weeks. Rats were treated with either LCZ696 (18 mg/kg, 36 mg/kg, and 72 mg/kg) or sildenafil. The mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI), and lung system index were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, and immunofluorescence staining were used for histological analysis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to determine the concentrations of inflammatory and hypoxia-related factors. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of apoptotic and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway proteins in rat lung tissue. Hypoxia increased mPAP, RVHI, and lung system index and induced pulmonary vascular remodeling, pulmonary arteriomyosis, and pulmonary artery fibrosis. LCZ696 treatment reduced the increase in mPAP, RVHI, and the lung system index and ameliorated the induced pathological changes. Hypoxia upregulated expression of NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-6, HIF-1α, and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), decreased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, and activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in lung tissue, and these effects were partially reversed by treatment with LCZ696. These results demonstrated that LCZ696 can ameliorate hypoxia-induced HPH by suppressing apoptosis, inhibiting the inflammatory response, and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. It provides a reference for clinical rational drug use and lays a foundation for the study of HPH therapeutic drugs.