Endothelial cell biology.

Abstract

The endothelium is not a passive blood-compatible lining for the containment of blood cells and plasma, but rather it is a metabolically active tissue that subserves a wide range of functions relating to vascular homeostasis. This article reviews the current understanding of endothelial cell biology in terms of the molecules and biochemical pathways involved. These regulate coagulant and thrombotic properties of the vessel wall, vascular tone, and hence blood flow and pressure; changes in solute permeability and leukocyte traffic during the generation of inflammatory and immune responses; and finally the processes of vessel growth and angiogenesis. The review concludes with a consideration of how these functional properties can be disturbed, and their possible consequences, in response to irradiation, intravascular contrast media, or angioplasty.

Transactivation of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors Is Essential for Vascular Barrier Regulation

“…2 constitute an inner lining of blood vessels to regulate the interface between the blood and the vessel wall including vascular barrier regulation, passive diffusion, and active transport of substances from the blood, regulation of vascular smooth muscle tone, and blood clotting (1,2). Disruption of this semi-selective cellular barrier is a critical feature of inflammation as well as an important contributing factor to atherosclerosis and tumor angiogenesis (3,4).…”

Earthquake-Induced Cardiovascular Disease and Related Risk Factors in Focusing on the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

“…Emotional stress in atherosclerotic monkeys does lead to changes in endothelial cell, and it exacerbates coronary artery atherosclerosis 43). Adrenaline and noradrenaline released during stress may have several effects, including strong potentiation of platelet aggregation in response to aggregating agents, vessel wall damage, a release of tPA and vWF from endothelial cell, and coronary artery spasm 25,36). Thus, the increased catecholamine levels associated with stress may enhance spasms, vessel injury, the formation of platelet-rich thrombi, and subsequent fibrin high turnover.…”

Involvement of Cytochrome P450 1A in the toxicity of aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists : alteration arachidonic acid metabolism and production of reactive oxygen species

“…Third, the ability of endothelial cells to relax or contract allows them to control microvascular permeability (Crone, 1986;Miller and Sims, 1986). Fourth, they regulate platelet clumping and clotting (Vander et al, 1990), and lymphocyte traffic (Pearson, 1991). Last, these cells are responsible not only for repair of damaged blood vessels but also angiogenesis (Alberts et al, 1989).…”

“…The functions of endothelium are diverse, including providing a physical lining, maintaining blood vessel tone, controlling microvascular permeability, regulating platelet clumping, clotting and lymphocyte traffic, repairing damaged blood vessels and initiating . angiogenesis (Pearson, 1991). Thus endothelium may be a site that is particularly sensitive to xenobiotic toxicity.…”