Dominant Role for Regulatory T Cells in Protecting Females Against Pulmonary Hypertension.

ABSTRACT: RATIONALE:Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening condition associated with immune dysregulation and abnormal regulatory T cell (Treg) activity, but it is currently unknown whether and how abnormal Treg function differentially affects males and females. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate whether and how Treg deficiency differentially affects male and female rats in experimental PH. METHODS AND RESULTS:Male and female athymic rnu/rnu rats, lacking Tregs, were treated with the VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) inhibitor SU5416 or chronic hypoxia and evaluated for PH; some animals underwent Treg immune reconstitution before SU5416 administration. Plasma PGI2 (prostacyclin) levels were measured. Lung and right ventricles were assessed for the expression of the vasopr

SUBMITTER: Tamosiuniene R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5993601 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature