| Sumario: | Selenium deficiency is implicated in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This study investigated the effects of sodium selenite (SSE) on PAH and its underlying mechanisms. In a monocrotaline-induced PAH rat model, SSE treatment significantly improved right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), and vascular remodeling. It reduced collagen deposition and partially restored the expression of Collagen 1 and SM22α. SSE upregulated glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) expression and attenuated oxidative stress, as evidenced by enhanced SOD activity and decreased MDA levels. In vitro, SSE inhibited H₂O₂ and angiotensin II-induced proliferation, oxidative stress, and phenotypic switching in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), while upregulating GPX3 at both mRNA and protein levels. These findings demonstrate that SSE alleviates PAH by enhancing GPX3-mediated antioxidant defense and suppressing vascular remodeling, supporting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for PAH.
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