Iloprost Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Dependent Activation of Collagen Synthesis Induced by Sera from Scleroderma Patients in Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Endothelial cell injury is an early event in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with oxidative stress being a key trigger of SSc-associated vasculopathy. This study demonstrates that circulating factors in the sera of SSc patients significantly increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and collagen synthesis in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). Additionally, we explored the impact of iloprost, a drug commonly used in SSc therapy, on these biological processes. Our results show that sera from SSc patients treated with iloprost do not elevate ROS levels or collagen synthesis in HPMECs compared to untreated SSc sera, suggesting that iloprost may exert its therapeutic effects through an antioxidant mechanism.