The role of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 isoform 2 (Cox4i2) in chronic hypoxia induced pulmonary hypertension

Rationale: Exposure of the pulmonary vasculature to chronic hypoxia results in pulmonary vascular remodeling and development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) ultimately leading to right heart failure and death. Mitochondria have been suggested to be involved in proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) underlying pulmonary vascular remodeling. We thus aimed to investigate the role of the lung-specific and hypoxia-regulated mitochondrial protein cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 isoform 2 (Cox4i2) in chronic hypoxia-induced PH. Methods and Results: PASMC were isolated from wild-type (WT) mice and…