What are the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) on cellular proliferation, apoptosis resistance, mitochondrial and metabolic alterations associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH)?
Pulm Pharmacol Ther · 2022 · PMID 36030026 · DOI 10.1016/j.pupt.2022.102156
PQQ shows promise in preventing and treating pulmonary hypertension by improving mitochondrial function and reducing cellular proliferation and inflammation.
The question
What are the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) on cellular proliferation, apoptosis resistance, mitochondrial and metabolic alterations associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH)?
What they tested
The study hypothesizes that PQQ, known to promote mitochondrial biogenesis, may have beneficial effects on the cellular and mitochondrial dysregulations contributing to pulmonary hypertension.
How they did it
Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs), endothelial cells (PAECs), and primary cultured cardiomyocytes were exposed to hypoxia to induce a PH-like phenotype. Sprague Dawley rats were injected with monocrotaline (MCT) (60 mg/kg, SC, once) to induce pulmonary hypertension. PQQ treatment (2 mg/kg, PO, for 35 days) was administered to the MCT-treated rats.
What they found
PQQ treatment attenuated cellular proliferation and promoted apoptosis via a mitochondrial-dependent pathway. In HPASMCs, PQQ prevented mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunctions, improved mitochondrial bioenergetics, preserved respiratory complexes, and reduced insulin resistance. In MCT-treated rats, PQQ treatment (both preventive and curative) significantly attenuated the increase in right ventricle pressure and hypertrophy, reduced endothelial dysfunction and pulmonary artery remodeling, prevented cardiac fibrosis, improved cardiac functions, and reduced inflammation.
What it means
PQQ can attenuate mitochondrial and metabolic abnormalities in PASMCs and prevent the development of PH in MCT-treated rats, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for PH.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Magellan’s evidence label | promotes mitochondrial biogenesis (our label for this citation — see PubMed for the paper’s own title and authors) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Pulm Pharmacol Ther |
| Year | 2022 |
| PMID | 36030026 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.pupt.2022.102156 ↗ |
| Topic | NAD⁺, sirtuins & cellular energy |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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PQQ (Pyrroloquinoline Quinone)
In human aging and health, PQQ is studied mainly for cognitive function, mitochondrial and energy support, antioxidant activity, and blood-lipid markers.
Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ, also called methoxatin) is a redox-active o-quinone compound found…
Research describes the compound or intervention studied. It is not a claim about any specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What are the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) on cellular proliferation, apoptosis resistance, mitochondrial and metabolic alterations associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH)? [Plain-English summary of Pulm Pharmacol Ther 2022, PMID 36030026, DOI 10.1016/j.pupt.2022.102156]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s122.html@misc{magellan_s122,
title = {What are the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) on cellular proliferation, apoptosis resistance, mitochondrial and metabolic alterations associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH)?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s122.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 36030026; DOI 10.1016/j.pupt.2022.102156; Pulm Pharmacol Ther 2022. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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