Raptor activation by aldosterone promotes apoptosis resistance in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells to modulate adverse pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension

In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), hyperaldosteronism (ALDO) is associated with adverse vascular remodeling typified by pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PSMC) proliferation and apoptosis resistance. Raptor activation induces PSMC growth and inhibits apoptosis; however, the role of ALDO-Raptor signaling in PAH vascular remodeling is unknown. We, therefore, treated human PSMCs with ALDO (10–7 mol/L) or vehicle (V) for 1 h. Compared to V-treated cells, ALDO increased P-raptor (Ser792) expression by 197% (p