Figure 5.

Sendai virus (SeV) vector–mediated induction of constitutively active mutant of natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (caNPR2) in pulmonary arteries attenuates the proliferation of pulmonary arterial cells in experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). (a) Immunostaining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) shows that the number of proliferative cells (arrowheads) in pulmonary arterial walls is significantly decreased in caNPR2-treated lungs (n = 4). Upper panels show representative images of pulmonary arteries, which are marked by the dashed circles. Bar = 50 µm. *P < 0.05 versus control. (b) Immunostaining of cleaved caspase-3 shows that caNPR2 induction does not affect cell apoptosis (n = 3). Positive cells are marked by arrowheads. Upper panels show representative images of the analyzed pulmonary arteries, which are marked by dashed circles. Bar = 50 µm. N.S., not significant.