Dysregulation of endothelial barrier integrity can lead to vascular leak and potentially fatal oedema. TNF-α controls endothelial permeability during inflammation and requires the actin organizing Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) proteins. We identified TRAF2 and NCK-interacting kinase (TNIK) as a kinase directly phosphorylating and activating ERM, specifically at the plasma membrane of primary human endothelial cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
January 2025
Clinical monitoring of pulmonary edema due to vascular hyperpermeability in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) poses significant clinical challenges. Presently, no biological or radiological markers are available for quantifying pulmonary edema. Our aim was to phenotype pulmonary edema and pulmonary vascular permeability in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ARDS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRationale: Approximately 80% of patients with non-familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) lack identifiable pathogenic genetic variants. While most genetic studies of PAH have focused on predicted loss-of-function variants, recent approaches have identified ultra-rare missense variants associated with the disease. encodes a highly conserved transcription factor, essential for angiogenesis and vasculogenesis in human and mouse lungs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF