Ion channels in pulmonary hypertension: A therapeutic interest?

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a multifactorial and severe disease without curative therapies. PAH pathobiology involves altered pulmonary arterial tone, endothelial dysfunction, distal pulmonary vessel remodeling, and inflammation, which could all depend on ion channel activities (K+, Ca2+, Na+ and Cl−). This review focuses on ion channels in the pulmonary vasculature and discusses their pathophysiological contribution to PAH as well as their therapeutic potential in PAH.