Sarpogrelate attenuates pulmonary arterial hypertension via calcium/calcineurin axis

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a syndrome caused by restricted blood flow in the pulmonary circulation, which results in a poor patient prognosis. The serotonin (5-HT), TRPC1 (Transient receptor potencial channel 1), TRPC6 (Transient receptor potencial channel 6), calcineurin A, and NFATc3 (an isoform of nuclear factor of activated T-cells family) are involved in cell proliferation and hypertrophy and the crosstalk between these molecules may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. We hypothesized that 5-HT promotes PAH by affecting TRPC channels. We investigated the effects of sarpogrelate, a 5-HT_2A receptor antagonist, on pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac remodeling, pulmonary artery remodeling, and TRPC1, TRPC6, calcineurin A, and NFATc3 expression in pulmonary arteries from rats with PAH. The results showed that sarpogrelate reduced pulmonary arterial pressure, cardiac remodeling, pulmonary artery remodeling, and expression of TRPC1, TRPC6, calcineurin A, and NFATc3 in pulmonary arteries. In conclusion, Sarpogrelate reduced the severity of PAH in rat model and decreased the expression of TRPC1, TRPC6, calcineurin A, and NFATc3 in pulmonary arteries.