Objective: To investigate the role of autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) in the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in hypoxia conditions.
Methods: The following groups in this study were set up: control group, hypoxia group, 50 micromol/L CQ + hypoxia group, 50 micromol/L CQ group. The viability of PASMCs in every group was detected by MTT assay. Autophagic vacuoles in the cells were observed by MDC staining. Protein expression of microtubule associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) was measured by Western blot. Migration of PASMCs was detected by wound healing assay.
Results: Compared with control group, no effect on the viability of PASMCs was observed treated by CQ alone. In 1% hypoxia group, cell viability increased significantly compared with that in control group. The number of autophagic vacuoles and the rate of cell migration and also protein expression of LC3-II were also markedly increased. Compared with hypoxia group, addition of CQ increased the number of autophagic vacuoles and the levels of LC3-II protein, but decreased the proliferation and migration of PASMCs.
Conclusion: Hypoxia could activates autophagy and contributes to proliferation and migration of PASMCs, and autophagy inhibitor CQ could decrease the effect of hypoxia on PASMCs through inhibiting autophagy process.