Acid‐sensing ion channel 1 contributes to pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell depolarization following hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is characterized by sustained vasoconstriction and remodelling of the small pulmonary arteries, which is associated with persistent depolarization of the resting membrane potential (Em ) of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). It is well-known that the underlying mechanism of this depolarization includes inhibition of K+ channels; however, whether other ion channels contribute to this depolarization is unknown....