Key result
Hypertension was associated with a higher number of multivesicular bodies per cell (3.8 vs 0.5) and more exosomes per MVB (7.9 vs 5.0) in omental resistance arteries compared to normotension.
Why the study?
Exosomes are thought to mediate endothelial-to-smooth muscle cell communication in resistance artery remodeling, but ultrastructural studies on microvascular exosomes during hypertension are lacking.
Observational (n=19)
Absolute Event Rate: 3.8% vs 0.5%
Human hypertension is associated with increased numbers of multivesicular bodies and exosomes in resistance arteries, suggesting their involvement in vascular remodeling.
May implicate MVBs/exosomes in hypertensive vascular remodeling; hypothesis-generating, needs prospective validation.
We previously reported that human hypertension is associated with ultrastructural remodeling of systemic resistance arteries. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells (SMC) displayed mitochondrial and sarco-endoplasmic reticulum stress, accompanied by SMC migration toward the intima. Exosomes, nano-sized phospholipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles released from cells upon fusion of multivesicular bodies (MVB) with the plasma membrane, are thought to be involved in the endothelial-to-SMC communication regulating these adaptations. However, there is a dearth of ultrastructural studies on microvascular exosomes during hypertension. Therefore, we characterized and quantified exosomes in omental resistance-sized arteries (200-400 μm), obtained during surgery in 19 women (9 hypertensive), mean age 42 y (SE 1). The number of MVBs was around 7-fold higher in hypertensives, mean, 3.8 (SE 0.2)/cell vs 0.5 (0.1) in normotensives, with a shift from a scant dispersion of intracellular MVBs in normotensives, toward a prominent abluminal endothelial location in hypertensives. MVBs also contained significantly more exosomes in hypertensives, mean 7.9 (0.2) vs 5.0 (0.2)/MVB in normotensives.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Perrotta et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Hypertension (n=19). Hypertension vs. Normotension was evaluated on Number of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) per cell. Hypertension was associated with a higher number of multivesicular bodies per cell (3.8 vs 0.5) and more exosomes per MVB (7.9 vs 5.0) in omental resistance arteries compared to normotension.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: