Interestingly, Gas6-mediated Axl activation enhanced BMPR2 signaling and protects from R428-induced hPAEC apoptosis, while inhibition of BMPR2 signaling by LDN-193189 diminished the Gas6-induced phosphorylation of SMAD1/5/8 and ID1 increase, suggesting that Gas6/Axl might play a protective role in the pulmonary endothelium in the context of PAH. Here, SMAD1 is linked to pulmonary arterial hypertension.