Distinct Differences in Gene Expression Patterns in Pulmonary Arteries of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis with Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract

Despite clinical and histologic vascular remodeling in all patients with PH-COPD and PH-IPF, differential gene expression pattern was present in pulmonary artery profiles. Several genes involved in retinol metabolism and ECM receptor interaction enable discrimination of vascular remodeling in PH-IPF or PH-COPD. This suggests that pulmonary arterial remodeling in PH-COPD and PH-IPF is caused by different molecular mechanisms and may require specific therapeutic options.