@article{He2025, 
author = {Muhua He and Junting Zhang and Xiao-Wei Nie and Jin-Song Bian},
title = {T cells in pulmonary hypertension: protective or pathogenic?},
year = {2025},
journal = {Oral Science and Homeostatic Medicine},
volume = {1},
number = {3},
pages = {9610034},
keywords = {homeostasis, pulmonary hypertension, T cells, vascular remodeling, cell interaction},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/OSHM.2025.9610034},
doi = {10.26599/OSHM.2025.9610034},
abstract = {Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex and progressive syndrome characterized by vascular remodeling, inflammation, and immune imbalance. Although T cell dysregulation is increasingly recognized in PH, their precise role remains controversial. Pathogenic subsets, such as T helper 17 cells (Th17), promote vascular inflammation and smooth muscle proliferation through cytokines including IL-17 and IFN-γ, whereas regulatory T cells (Tregs) counteract these processes by suppressing excessive immune responses and maintaining endothelial stability. In PH, T cell homeostasis is largely shaped by signals from macrophages, dendritic cells, vascular cells and so on. Yet they are not bystanders: once activated, T cells engage in cytokine release and intercellular interactions. Importantly, their activation may represent a secondary consequence of disease, a primary trigger of vascular injury, or a protective mechanism depending on the context. This review integrates current evidence to describe the multifaceted roles of T cells in PH, evaluate their therapeutic potential, and clarify their diverse functions as pathogenic amplifiers or protective regulators in disease progression.}
}