Eur Respir J.2013 Jul;42(1):272-9. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00087212. Epub 2012 Dec 20.

Cellular microparticles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.

Amabile N, Guignabert C, Montani D, Yeghiazarians Y, Boulanger CM, Humbert M.

Paris Cardiovascular Research Center, Paris, France.

Abstract

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal disease with no treatment options characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and secondary right ventricular failure. The etiology of PAH is multiple and its pathogenesis is complex. Although the exact role of cellular microparticles (MPs) remains partially understood, there is increasing evidence to suggest an active role for MPs in PH pathophysiology. Patients with PH exhibited higher circulating levels of MPs compared to controls subjects and in vitro or in vivo generated MPs can induce endothelial dysfunction, interfere with coagulation pathways or modulate inflammatory phenomenon. Whether or not these new conveyors of biological information contribute to the acquisition and/or maintenance to the altered endothelial phenotype is unexplored in PH and requires further study.

PMID:23258792