Use of fk506 for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

A method for reducing pulmonary hypertension in a mammal that employs FK506 is provided. In certain embodiments, the method comprises administering FK506 to a mammal having pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with defective MBPR2 signaling at a dosage sufficient to reduce blood pressure in the pulmonary artery of the mammal.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating or preventing pulmonary arterial hypertension in a patient, the method comprising:
 administering FK506 to the patient at a blood concentration below about 5 ng/mL.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the patient is human. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the administering is oral, intravenous, or inhalation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the blood concentration is between about 0.1 ng/mL and about 5 ng/mL. 
     
     
         13 . A method of screening for a compound that modulates the activity of BMPR2 pathway, the method comprising:
 providing a cell line stably transfected with a reporter plasmid expressing a BMP response element;   contacting the cell line with a solution comprising the compound; and   measuring the induction of BMPR2 signaling.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the method further comprising a positive control. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the positive control is BMP4.