Inhibition of P110α and P110δ catalytic subunits of PI3 kinase reverses impaired arterial healing after injury in hypercholesterolemic male mice.

Endothelial cell (EC) migration is critical for healing arterial injuries, such as those that occur with angioplasty. Impaired re-endothelialization following arterial injury contributes to vessel thrombogenicity, intimal hyperplasia, and restenosis. Oxidized lipid products, including lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), induce canonical transient receptor potential 6 (TRPC6) externalization leading to increased [Ca2+]i, activation of calpains, and alterations of the EC cytoskeletal structure that inhibit migration. The p110α and p110δ catalytic subunit isoforms of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) regulate lysoPC-induced TRPC6 externalization in vitro. The goal of this study was to assess the in vivo relevance of those in vitro findings to arterial healing following a denuding injury in hypercholesterolemic mice treated with pharmacologic inhibitors of the p110α and p110δ isoforms of PI3K and a general PI3K inhibitor. Pharmacologic inhibition of the p110α or the p110δ isoform of PI3K partially preserves healing in hypercholesterolemic male mice, similar to a general PI3K inhibitor. Interestingly, the p110α, p110δ, and the general PI3K inhibitor do not improve arterial healing after injury in hypercholesterolemic female mice. These results indicate a potential new role for isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors in male patients following arterial injury/intervention. The results also identify significant sex differences in the response to PI3K inhibition in the cardiovascular system, where female sex generally has a cardioprotective effect. This study provides a foundation to investigate the mechanism for the sex differences in response to PI3K inhibition to develop a more generally applicable treatment option.