Beta arrestin 1 is a key regulator of pulmonary vascular tone

L Leonard F. Lebender (Institute of Physiology I, Life&Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn) A Alexander Seidinger (Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum) M Michaela Matthey (Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum) B Birte Dyck (Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Knappschaft Kliniken University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum) C Christian Schlamm (Agnes Wittenborg Institute for Translational Cardiovascular Research, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum North Rhine-Westphalia, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum) A Abdullah Kaddoura (Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum) M Maximilian Hausherr (Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics, Ruhr University Bochum) B Britta Eggers (Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics, Ruhr University Bochum) K Katrin Marcus (Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics, Ruhr University Bochum) E Evi Kostenis (Molecular, Cellular and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn) V Volkmar Gieselmann (Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn) M Michael Adamzik (Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Knappschaft Kliniken University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum) A Anna Klinke (Agnes Wittenborg Institute for Translational Cardiovascular Research, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum North Rhine-Westphalia, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum) B Björn Koos (Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Knappschaft Kliniken University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum) B Bernd K. Fleischmann (Institute of Physiology I, Life&Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn) D Daniela Wenzel (Institute of Physiology I, Life&Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn)

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a serious disorder, in which increased vascular tone is one of the critical hallmarks. Since beta arrestins (bArrs) have been shown to regulate smooth muscle tone in the airways, we investigated the function of bArr1 in the pulmonary vasculature. Here, we report that bArr1 is essential for maintaining normal pulmonary arterial tone. Specifically, pulmonary arteries from bArr1−/− mice exhibited reduced NO-dependent vasorelaxation due to impaired soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activity, which was restored by the heme-independent sGC activator BAY58-2667. We identified bArr1 as a binding partner of sGC and the sGC heme reductase cytochrome b5 reductase (Cyb5r3), indicating that bArr1 is vital for sensitizing sGC to NO. Finally, mice with either ubiquitous or smooth muscle-specific bArr1 deficiency developed pulmonary hypertension (PH). These findings highlight the important role of bArr1 in regulating pulmonary vascular tone and propose it as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of PH.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 7
Published February 17, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (16)

L

Leonard F. Lebender

Institute of Physiology I, Life&Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn

A

Alexander Seidinger

Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum

M

Michaela Matthey

Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum

B

Birte Dyck

Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Knappschaft Kliniken University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum

C

Christian Schlamm

Agnes Wittenborg Institute for Translational Cardiovascular Research, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum North Rhine-Westphalia, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum

A

Abdullah Kaddoura

Department of Systems Physiology, Medical Faculty, Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum

M

Maximilian Hausherr

Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics, Ruhr University Bochum

B

Britta Eggers

Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics, Ruhr University Bochum

K

Katrin Marcus

Medical Proteome Analysis, Center for Protein Diagnostics, Ruhr University Bochum

E

Evi Kostenis

Molecular, Cellular and Pharmacobiology Section, Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn

V

Volkmar Gieselmann

Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn

M

Michael Adamzik

Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Knappschaft Kliniken University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum

A

Anna Klinke

Agnes Wittenborg Institute for Translational Cardiovascular Research, Herz- und Diabeteszentrum North Rhine-Westphalia, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum

B

Björn Koos

Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Knappschaft Kliniken University Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum

B

Bernd K. Fleischmann

Institute of Physiology I, Life&Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn

D

Daniela Wenzel

Institute of Physiology I, Life&Brain Center, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn