| dc.description.abstract | Background - The pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a protein of the acute phase of inflammation
which represents the prototype of the long pentraxins. In the last years, numerous
studies have correlated the elevated plasma levels of PTX3 with cardio- and cerebrovascular
diseases and recently with high blood pressure. To date, there are no studies
showing whether PTX3 is able to exert a direct action on the vascular component. Methods
and Results - Through in vitro experiments of vascular reactivity and ultrastructural
analysis, we have shown that PTX3 induces, per se, dysfunction and morphological
changes in the endothelial layer through the the complex P-selectin / metalloproteinase-1
(MMP1). In vivo studies have shown that the administration of PTX3 in wild-type mice
induces endothelial dysfunction and increased blood pressure, an effect which is absent in
the P-selectin knockout mice. Finally, by ELISA technique, we demonstrated that
hypertensive patients (n = 31) have higher plasma levels of PTX3, P-selectin and MMP1
compared to normotensive patients (n = 22).
Conclusion - Our data show, for the first time, the direct role of PTX3 on vascular function
and blood pressure homeostasis, identifying the molecular mechanisms involved. The results
obtained in humans, suggest that PTX3, P-selectin and MMP-1 may be new biomarkers to
predict the onset of vascular dysfunction in hypertensive patients. [edited by author] | it_IT |
