Bone morphogenetic protein-9 controls pulmonary vascular growth and remodeling

N Nihel Berrebeh (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) Y Yvon Mbouamboua (Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire) R Raphaël Thuillet (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) M Mina Ottaviani (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) F Fabien Robert (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) M Mustapha Kamel Chelgham (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) V Virginie Magnone (Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire) A Agnès Desroches-Castan (Biosanté unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA) N Nicolas Ricard (Biosanté unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA) I Ignacio Anegon (Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Transgenic Rat ImmunoPhenomic facility) S Séverine Remy (Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Transgenic Rat ImmunoPhenomic facility) R Ralph Theo Schermuly (Department of Internal Medicine, Member of the German Center of Lung Research, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen) K Kevin Lebrigand (Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire) B Baktybek Kojonazarov (Department of Internal Medicine, Member of the German Center of Lung Research, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen) L Laurent Savale (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) M Marc Humbert (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) S Sabine Bailly (Biosanté unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA) P Pascal Barbry (Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire) L Ly Tu (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)) C Christophe Guignabert (INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT))

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are two distinct vascular diseases linked to impaired signaling through bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor complexes in endothelial cells. Although BMP-9 plays a central role in activating this pathway by binding to ALK1 and BMPR-II, its precise function in the pulmonary microvasculature has remained unclear. In this study, we demonstrate a role for BMP-9 in regulating pulmonary vascular architecture and homeostasis. Our findings reveal that BMP-9 signaling intersects with VEGF pathways and contributes to the delicate balance between vascular growth and remodeling in the lungs. We also show that disruption of this pathway can shift vascular responses toward an HHT-like state, potentially altering disease susceptibility. These insights offer a unique perspective on how BMP-9 and ALK1 shape pulmonary vascular biology and suggest that targeting this axis could inform future strategies for treating complex vascular diseases such as PAH.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 26
Published July 01, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (20)

N

Nihel Berrebeh

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

Y

Yvon Mbouamboua

Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire

R

Raphaël Thuillet

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

M

Mina Ottaviani

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

F

Fabien Robert

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

M

Mustapha Kamel Chelgham

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

V

Virginie Magnone

Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire

A

Agnès Desroches-Castan

Biosanté unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA

N

Nicolas Ricard

Biosanté unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA

I

Ignacio Anegon

Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Transgenic Rat ImmunoPhenomic facility

S

Séverine Remy

Nantes Université, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, Transgenic Rat ImmunoPhenomic facility

R

Ralph Theo Schermuly

Department of Internal Medicine, Member of the German Center of Lung Research, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen

K

Kevin Lebrigand

Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire

B

Baktybek Kojonazarov

Department of Internal Medicine, Member of the German Center of Lung Research, Institute for Lung Health (ILH), Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen

L

Laurent Savale

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

M

Marc Humbert

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

S

Sabine Bailly

Biosanté unit U1292, Grenoble Alpes University, INSERM, CEA

P

Pascal Barbry

Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire

L

Ly Tu

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)

C

Christophe Guignabert

INSERM, UMR_S 999, Pulmonary Hypertension: Pathophysiology and Novel Therapies (HPPIT)