Neutrophils induce proangiogenic T cells with a regulatory phenotype in pregnancy.

Although neutrophils are known to be fundamental in controlling innate immune responses, their role in regulating adaptive immunity is just starting to be appreciated. We report that human neutrophils exposed to pregnancy hormones progesterone and estriol promote the establishment of maternal tolerance through the induction of a population of CD4 T cells displaying a GARPCD127FOXP3 phenotype following antigen activation. Neutrophil-induced T (niT) cells produce IL-10, IL-17, and VEGF and promote vessel growth in vitro.

Ex vivo relaxations of pulmonary arteries induced by prostacyclin mimetics are highly dependent of the precontractile agents.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) mimetics (iloprost, treprostinil) are potent vasodilators (primarily via IP-receptor activation) and major therapeutic interventions for pulmonary hypertension (PH). Increased plasma levels of endothelin (ET-1), thromboxane (TxA2) and catecholamines have been demonstrated from patients with PH. In this study, we aimed to compare relaxant effects of iloprost and treprostinil on human (HPA) and rat pulmonary arteries precontracted with either ET-1, thromboxane (U46619) or an α-adrenergic receptor agonist (Norepinephrine, NE or phenylephrine, PE).

Pregnancy-induced hypertension is accompanied by decreased number of circulating endothelial cells and circulating endothelial progenitor cells.

Maternal endothelial dysfunction is one of the main features of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). It is generally accepted that circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) reflect the state of the endothelium, its injury and/or repair possibilities. The objective of this study was to determine whether the CECs and EPCs numbers in the circulation of women with PIH reflect the presence of this pathology.

Differential actions of the prostacyclin analogues treprostinil and iloprost and the selexipag metabolite, MRE-269 (ACT-333679) in rat small pulmonary arteries and veins.

The prostacyclin (IP) receptor agonists, treprostinil, iloprost and the selexipag metabolite, MRE-269 (ACT-333679) were evaluated in rat distal pulmonary blood vessels. Small pulmonary arteries and veins were pre-contracted with the thromboxane mimetic, U46619 (25 and 100nM, respectively), and relaxation determined with and without IP receptor antagonists, RO1138452 and RO3244794. In arteries, treprostinil was a more potent vasorelaxant than iloprost, while the efficacy of iloprost was greater.