| Autor: |
Conti M; Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.; Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy., Minniti M; Centro Dipartimentale di Biologia Cellulare Cardiorespiratoria, Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica, Università Degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy., Tiné M; Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy., De Francesco M; Centro Dipartimentale di Biologia Cellulare Cardiorespiratoria, Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica, Università Degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy., Gaeta R; Centro Dipartimentale di Biologia Cellulare Cardiorespiratoria, Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica, Università Degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy., Nieri D; Centro Dipartimentale di Biologia Cellulare Cardiorespiratoria, Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica, Università Degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy., Semenzato U; Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy., Biondini D; Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.; Department of Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy., Camera M; Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, 20138 Milan, Italy.; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università Degli Studi di Milano, 20138 Milan, Italy., Cosio MG; Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy.; Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Respiratory Division, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada., Saetta M; Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy., Celi A; Centro Dipartimentale di Biologia Cellulare Cardiorespiratoria, Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica, Università Degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy., Bazzan E; Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy., Neri T; Centro Dipartimentale di Biologia Cellulare Cardiorespiratoria, Dipartimento di Patologia Chirurgica, Medica, Molecolare e dell'Area Critica, Università Degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
The term pulmonary hypertension (PH) refers to different conditions, all characterized by increased pressure and resistance in the pulmonary arterial bed. PH has a wide range of causes (essentially, cardiovascular, pulmonary, or connective tissue disorders); however, idiopathic (i.e., without a clear cause) PH exists. This chronic, progressive, and sometimes devastating disease can finally lead to right heart failure and eventually death, through pulmonary vascular remodeling and dysfunction. The exact nature of PH pathophysiology is sometimes still unclear. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), previously known as apoptotic bodies, microvesicles, and exosomes, are small membrane-bound vesicles that are generated by almost all cell types and can be detected in a variety of physiological fluids. EVs are involved in intercellular communication, thus influencing immunological response, inflammation, embryogenesis, aging, and regenerative processes. Indeed, they transport chemokines, cytokines, lipids, RNA and miRNA, and other biologically active molecules. Although the precise functions of EVs are still not fully known, there is mounting evidence that they can play a significant role in the pathophysiology of PH. In this review, after briefly recapping the key stages of PH pathogenesis, we discuss the current evidence on the functions of EVs both as PH biomarkers and potential participants in the distinct pathways of disease progression. |
