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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

On-Chip Endothelial Inflammatory Phenotyping
Published on: July 21, 2012
Upregulation of proinflammatory proteins through NF-kappaB pathway by shed membrane microparticles results in
Angela Tesse1, M Carmen Martínez, Bénédicte Hugel
1Pharmacologie et Physico-Chimie des Interactions Cellulaires et Moléculaires, UMR CNRS 7034, Illkirch, France.
Objective:
Microparticles are membrane vesicles with procoagulant and proinflammatory properties released during cell activation, including apoptosis. The present study was designed in dissecting the effects evoked by microparticles on vascular reactivity.
Methods And Results:
Microparticles from either apoptotic T lymphocytic cells or from plasma of diabetic patients with vascular complications induced vascular hyporeactivity in response to vasoconstrictor agents in mouse aorta. Hyporeactivity was reversed by nitric oxide (NO) synthase plus cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and associated with an increased production of vasodilatory products such as NO and prostacyclin. Microparticles induced an upregulation of proinflammatory protein expressions, inducible NO-synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, mainly in the medial layer of the vessels as evidenced by immunochemical staining. In addition, microparticles evoke NF-kappaB activation probably through the interaction with the Fas/Fas Ligand pathway. Finally, in vivo treatment of mice with lymphocyte-derived MPs induces vascular hyporeactivity, which was reversed by the combination of NO and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.
Conclusions:
These data provide a rationale to explain the paracrine role of microparticles as vectors of transcellular exchange of message in promoting vascular dysfunction during inflammatory diseases.
Insights
Microparticles from T cells or diabetic patients cause vascular hyporeactivity. This effect, linked to inflammation, is reversed by inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase-2 pathways.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Biology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Microparticles are cell-derived vesicles implicated in procoagulant and proinflammatory processes.
- Cell activation, including apoptosis, releases microparticles that may influence vascular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of microparticles on vascular reactivity.
- To elucidate the mechanisms underlying microparticle-induced vascular effects.
Main Methods:
- Assessed vascular reactivity in mouse aorta exposed to microparticles from apoptotic T cells or diabetic patients.
- Utilized nitric oxide (NO) synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors to evaluate the role of these pathways.
- Examined proinflammatory protein expression and NF-kappaB activation via immunochemical staining and pathway analysis.
- Investigated in vivo effects of lymphocyte-derived microparticles in mice.
Main Results:
- Microparticles induced vascular hyporeactivity to vasoconstrictors in mouse aorta.
- This hyporeactivity was reversed by NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors.
- Associated with increased production of vasodilatory products (NO, prostacyclin) and upregulation of inducible NO-synthase and cyclooxygenase-2.
- Microparticles activated NF-kappaB, potentially via the Fas/Fas Ligand pathway.
- In vivo treatment with microparticles caused reversible vascular hyporeactivity.
Conclusions:
- Microparticles act as vectors in transcellular signaling, contributing to vascular dysfunction.
- These findings offer a mechanistic explanation for the role of microparticles in inflammatory diseases and vascular complications.
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