Are pericytes involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia?

Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 1pm to 2pm

Abstract:
Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality, and is characterised by maternal endothelial dysfunction and systemic microvascular injury. Placental extracellular vesicles (EVs) are known mediators of placental signalling, but most studies focused on their effects on endothelial cells. In the microcirculation, however, endothelial function is influenced by vascular mural cells, including pericytes. Pericytes are important regulators of microvascular stability and angiogenesis in maternal organs, and their dysfunction has been implicated in vascular diseases, yet the effects of placental EVs on pericytes remain poorly understood. This talk will explore whether placental small EVs (psEVs) from normotensive and early-onset preeclampsia pregnancies directly interact with microvascular pericytes and alter their function. Using EVs isolated by ex vivo placental perfusion, psEVs were shown to be internalised by human brain vascular pericytes. Preeclampsia psEVs were found to induce significant transcriptional and functional changes in pericytes, resulting in metabolic reprogramming associated with mitochondrial dysregulation and a superoxide-biased redox state, and impaired angiogenic signalling. Together, these findings suggest that pericytes are a plausible but overlooked target of placental EV signalling, and may contribute to maternal microvascular dysfunction in preeclampsia. Therefore, this work broadens the current understanding of preeclampsia pathophysiology, and highlights the placenta–pericyte axis as a potential therapeutic target.
 
Bio:
Angga Lokeswara is a final year DPhil student at the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford. Prior to joining Oxford, he obtained his medical degree from the University of Indonesia, where he also conducted and published research in maternal–fetal medicine, with a particular focus on preeclampsia. His current research investigates the role of placental extracellular vesicles in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, particularly how they interact with microvascular pericytes and contribute to maternal vascular dysfunction.

Speaker(s): Angga Lokeswara (Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health)

Department: Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health (Department)

Organiser: Michael Suttie

Host: Nuffield Dept of Women's & Reproductive Health