blood of PAH patients and healthy controls as previously described.28 (link)–
informed consent in accordance with the human study protocol – 07/H0306/134
(Cambridgeshire 3 Research Ethics Committee). Cells were cultured and expanded
in Endothelial Cell Growth Medium-2 (EGM-2) (minus heparin) (Lonza, Slough, UK)
with 10% Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS) (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hemel Hempstead,
UK). All experiments were performed with passage 5–7 cells. Human or mouse
pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were isolated as previously
described and cultured in DMEM (Invitrogen) containing 20% (v/v) FBS and A/A
(DMEM/20% FBS).31 (link) The Royal Papworth Hospital ethical review committee approved the use of
the human tissues (Ethics Ref 08-H0304-56 + 5), and informed consent was
obtained from all subjects. Recombinant human BMP9 was purchased from R&D
Systems (Oxfordshire, UK). PTC124 was a kind gift from PTC Therapeutics (South
Plainfield, NJ, USA) and was used at 100 µM overnight in all in vitro
experiments.