Iloprost Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Dependent Activation of Collagen Synthesis Induced by Sera from Scleroderma Patients in Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Roberta Giordo,
Duong Thi Bich Thuan,
Anna Maria Posadino,
Annalisa Cossu,
Angelo Zinellu,
Gian Luca Erre,
Gianfranco Pintus
Affiliations
Roberta Giordo
College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates
Duong Thi Bich Thuan
Faculty of Biochemistry, College of Health Sciences, VinUniversity, Vinhomes Ocean Park, Gia Lam District, Hanoi 132002, Vietnam
Anna Maria Posadino
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Annalisa Cossu
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Angelo Zinellu
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Gian Luca Erre
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital (AOUSS) and University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Gianfranco Pintus
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Endothelial cell injury is an early event in systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis and several studies indicate oxidative stress as the trigger of SSc-associated vasculopathy. Here, we show that circulating factors present in sera of SSc patients increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and collagen synthesis in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). In addition, the possibility that iloprost, a drug commonly used in SSc therapy, might modulate the above-mentioned biological phenomena has been also investigated. In this regard, as compared to sera of SSc patients, sera of iloprost-treated SSc patients failed to increased ROS levels and collagen synthesis in HPMEC, suggesting a potential antioxidant mechanism of this drug.
