Effect of Peroxynitrite on Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Primary Endothelial Cell Cultures In Vitro

We studied the effects of the nitrosative stress modulator peroxynitrite on changes in key markers of the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in primary endothelial cell cultures in vitro. Peroxynitrite exposure significantly increased the relative content of endothelial markers (platelet adhesion molecules (CD31) and von Willebrand factor) and reduced the levels of mesenchymal markers (fibronectin and vimentin). These findings suggest that peroxynitrite may inhibit EndMT in vitro.