Macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles mediate smooth muscle hyperplasia: role of altered miRNA cargo in response to HIV infection and substance abuse

What is it about?

PAH is one of the most devastating and life-threatening non-infectious complications in the HIV-infected individuals especially among IV drug users. Due to lack of effective therapies, alternative new approaches based on specific mechanisms involved are needed. The study provides direct evidence of the involvement of inflammatory cells derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as communicators between infectious and non-infectious pulmonary vascular cells. Alterations in the cargo of these EVs in response to HIV-1 and cocaine alter their effects on vascular cells that may contribute towards the potentiation of pulmonary arteriopathy among HIV-infected drug abusers.

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