Cellular microparticles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a fatal disease with no treatment options, characterised by elevated pulmonary vascular resistanzce and secondary right ventricular failure. The aetiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension is multiple and its pathogenesis is complex. Although the exact role of cellular microparticles remains partially understood, there is increasing evidence to suggest an active role for microparticles in PH pathophysiology. Patients with PH exhibited higher circulating levels of microparticles compared to control subjects and in vitro or in vivo generated microparticles 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 of the altered endothelial phenotype is unexplored in PH and requires further study.