FIGURE 2.

Role of HIMF in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. HIMF induces pulmonary vasoconstriction, which plays a critical role in pulmonary hypertension. Simultaneously, HIMF also induces the proliferation of pulmonary arterial endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, which leads to angiogenesis, muscularization, the thickening of small pulmonary vessels, fibrosis, and subsequent vascular remodeling. Furthermore, HIMF induces inflammation in the lungs, which also promotes vascular remodeling and lung fibrosis, contributing to the pathological process of pulmonary hypertension.