Pdgfralpha Activation Leads to Blood Pressure Increase and Small Arteries Medial Hypertrophy in Male Mice

Objective: Arterial remodeling is associated with vascular function alteration and with hypertension development. This remodeling is due to cells reorganization within the vascular wall and in some cases to smooth muscle cells proliferation. PDGF (Platelet-derived Growth Factor) is a major regulator of arterial remodeling and some studies suggest that PDGFRα, one of its receptors, could be activated during hypertension. Our aim is to determine the role of PDGFRα and of PDGFRα-expressing progenitor cells in vascular remodeling. Design and method: We used a tamoxifen-inducible genetic mouse model of PDGFRα constitutive activation. Blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method and by carotid catheter. Small mesenteric arteries reactivity was studied using ex vivo arteriography. Vascular remodeling was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Results: PDGFRα constitutive activation for 6 weeks led to a 25% increase in blood pressure (p<0.05) and a 25% decrease in cardiac output in male mice (p<0.05), without changes in other cardiac parameters. In these mice, small mesenteric arteries showed no alteration in contractility or endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation but an increase of media thickness, whereas larger vessels did not show structure or function alteration. Echo-doppler analyses showed an increased resistivity index of the renal artery (+13% p<0.05) but not of the aorta suggesting an increased resistance of small renal arteries. The remodeling of small mesenteric arteries was characterized by an early proliferation of perivascular cells at 4 days but not of medial cells followed by the production of new smooth muscle cells after 2 weeks. Female mice did not show blood pressure increase following induction of PDGFRα constitutive activation for 6 weeks. Small mesenteric arteries showed a reduced contractility with alteration of endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation. Conclusions: These results suggest that PDGFRα activation could participate in arterial hypertension development by leading to increased media thickness and stiffness in small arteries in males. Our results suggest that in females the increased resistance of small vessels is compensated by a decreased contractility.