Knockdown of connective tissue growth factor by plasmid-based short hairpin RNA prevented pulmonary vascular remodeling in cigarette smoke-exposed rats

► CTGFshRNA inhibits CTGF and cyclin D1 expressions in rPASMCs induced by CSE. ► CTGFshRNA suppresses CTGF and cyclin D1 expressions in rat pulmonary vessels induced by cigarette smoke. ► CTGFshRNA attenuates pulmonary vascular remodeling in cigarette smoke-exposed rats.