Endothelial and smooth muscle cell interactions in the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension

Y Gao, T Chen, JU Raj - American Journal of Respiratory Cell and …, 2016 - atsjournals.org
Y Gao, T Chen, JU Raj
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 2016atsjournals.org
In the pulmonary vasculature, the endothelial and smooth muscle cells are two key cell types
that play a major role in the pathobiology of pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary
hypertension. The normal interactions between these two cell types are important for the
homeostasis of the pulmonary circulation, and any aberrant interaction between them may
lead to various disease states including pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary
hypertension. It is well recognized that the endothelial cell can regulate the function of the …
In the pulmonary vasculature, the endothelial and smooth muscle cells are two key cell types that play a major role in the pathobiology of pulmonary vascular disease and pulmonary hypertension. The normal interactions between these two cell types are important for the homeostasis of the pulmonary circulation, and any aberrant interaction between them may lead to various disease states including pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension. It is well recognized that the endothelial cell can regulate the function of the underlying smooth muscle cell by releasing various bioactive agents such as nitric oxide and endothelin-1. In addition to such paracrine regulation, other mechanisms exist by which there is cross-talk between these two cell types, including communication via the myoendothelial injunctions and information transfer via extracellular vesicles. Emerging evidence suggests that these nonparacrine mechanisms play an important role in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone and the determination of cell phenotype and that they are critically involved in the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension.
ATS Journals