RNA-seq analysis of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMCs) after pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment

Previous studies to determine transcriptional changes in PASMCs during PAH were affected by the inevitable contamination with BSMCs and venous SMCs. To specific target ASMCs, we generated an ASMC-effector mouse line by combining Cspg4/Acta2 intersectional genetics, enabling specific targeting of vascular SMCs, including PASMCs. To target non-vascular SMCs, including BSMCs, we generated the NVSMC-effector mouse line using Chrm2/Acta2 intersectional genetics. The development of ASMC-effector mice, excluding venous and BSMCs, enabled us to avoid such problems and determine PASMC-specific reactions after induction of PAH.