Short-Term Administration of a Cell-Permeable Caveolin-1 Peptide Prevents the Development of Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Hypertrophy

Caveolins (Cavs), the principal structural proteins of caveolar microdomains, have been implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Mice with homozygous deletion of the Cav-1 gene develop PH and right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH). Reductions in pulmonary Cav-1 expression have been shown in several animal models of PH and in patients with severe PH. Whether in vivo modulation of Cav-1 expression could affect the development of PH and RVH remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of in vivo administration of a Cav-1 mimetic peptide on the development of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH.