In addition, gene expression of other common PAH-associated cytokines, chemokine and adhesion molecules (IL6, IL8, NAMPT, ICAM1 and VCAM1) were assayed in SOX17-knockdown HPAECs, of which NAMPT (2-fold, P ≤ 0.01) and ICAM1 (1.9-fold, P ≤ 0.05) were significantly overexpressed (Fig. 1C). Here, IL6 is linked to pulmonary arterial hypertension.