Researchers at Indiana University and Notre Dame have found a possible new treatment for lung high blood pressure, focusing on reversing vascular renovation through an epigenetic path including the protein SPHK2, as reported in Circulation Research. While the precise causes of pulmonary hypertension are unknown, one of its trademarks is the thickening of the lung blood vessels triggered by an overgrowth of cells, also known as vascular remodeling.New Therapeutic DiscoveriesMargaret A. Schwarz, MD, a teacher of pediatrics at IU School of Medicine and senior author on the study, said there are couple of treatments for pulmonary high blood pressure, and they typically deal with the signs of vascular improvement rather than the remodeling itself.Schwarz stated whats interesting about her teams findings is the discovery of an epigenetic path mediated through the protein SPHK2 that can lower and potentially reverse vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension.Dushani Ranasinghe, PhD, left, and Margaret Schwarz, MD, at Ranasinghes graduation event from the University of Notre Dame. “Normally, pulmonary hypertension patients are given medications to reduce the vascular pressure in the lungs or to help the heart squeeze better to pump blood, which are both signs of vascular remodeling.
