These data validated that SRF responded to hypoxia, which subsequently was involved in pulmonary hypertension by abnormally promoting viability of PASMCs via modulating expression of Bcl-2..
Angiotensin II type 1 receptor-activated caspase-3 through ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the rostral ventrolateral medulla is involved in sympathoexcitation in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.
To address the question of whether these Bcl-2 and caspase family members participate in the process of delayed neuronal death in humans, we examined brain tissue samples removed from adult patients during surgical decompression for intracranial hypertension in the acute phase after traumatic brain injury (n=8) and compared these samples to brain tissue obtained at autopsy from non-trauma patients (n=6).
Moreover, lisinopril and nifedipine appear to be capable of reducing bcl-2 concentrations, with potentially beneficial effects on vascular modifications in patients with hypertension.
The expression of two genes, BCL2, which inhibits apoptosis, and BAX, which induces apoptosis, was examined and correlated to the presence of risk factors that included hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus.