Hydrogen Sulfide as a Putative Transmitter in Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction

Project Description Narrative:

The researchers on this project have long focused on the pulmonary vasculature, particularly investigating the cellular mechanisms that underlie hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV). While HPV can be beneficial in the acute setting, when it becomes global and results in pulmonary hypertension, it can be deadly. The researchers’ finding that the effects of hydrogen sulfide on the pulmonary vasculature were strikingly similar to those produced by acute hypoxia, leading them to hypothesize that hydrogen sulfide is a putative transmitter in HPV. The overall aim of this project is to define the importance of hydrogen sulfide in the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia. Knowledge gained from this and future work may contribute to the development of new therapies for pulmonary hypertension.