Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update
The vascular endothelium, a monolayer of endothelial cells (EC), constitutes the inner cellular lining of arteries, veins and capillaries and therefore is in direct contact with the components and cells of blood. The endothelium is not only a mere barrier between blood and tissues but also an endocr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/18/4411 |
| _version_ | 1811198224590962688 |
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| author | Anne Krüger-Genge Anna Blocki Ralf-Peter Franke Friedrich Jung |
| author_facet | Anne Krüger-Genge Anna Blocki Ralf-Peter Franke Friedrich Jung |
| author_sort | Anne Krüger-Genge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The vascular endothelium, a monolayer of endothelial cells (EC), constitutes the inner cellular lining of arteries, veins and capillaries and therefore is in direct contact with the components and cells of blood. The endothelium is not only a mere barrier between blood and tissues but also an endocrine organ. It actively controls the degree of vascular relaxation and constriction, and the extravasation of solutes, fluid, macromolecules and hormones, as well as that of platelets and blood cells. Through control of vascular tone, EC regulate the regional blood flow. They also direct inflammatory cells to foreign materials, areas in need of repair or defense against infections. In addition, EC are important in controlling blood fluidity, platelet adhesion and aggregation, leukocyte activation, adhesion, and transmigration. They also tightly keep the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis and play a major role in the regulation of immune responses, inflammation and angiogenesis. To fulfill these different tasks, EC are heterogeneous and perform distinctly in the various organs and along the vascular tree. Important morphological, physiological and phenotypic differences between EC in the different parts of the arterial tree as well as between arteries and veins optimally support their specified functions in these vascular areas. This review updates the current knowledge about the morphology and function of endothelial cells, particularly their differences in different localizations around the body paying attention specifically to their different responses to physical, biochemical and environmental stimuli considering the different origins of the EC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:28:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4dbeaa11c3ed48ec8c15291cc43b558b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:28:27Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-4dbeaa11c3ed48ec8c15291cc43b558b2022-12-22T03:53:34ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1422-00672019-09-012018441110.3390/ijms20184411ijms20184411Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An UpdateAnne Krüger-Genge0Anna Blocki1Ralf-Peter Franke2Friedrich Jung3Department of Biomaterials and Healthcare, Division of Life Science and Bioprocesses, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP), 14476 Potsdam-Golm, GermanyInstitute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (ITERM), School of Biomedical Sciences (SBS), Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), New Territories, Hong Kong, ChinaCentral Institute for Biomedical Technology, Dep. Biomaterials, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081 Ulm, GermanyInstitute of Biotechnology, Molecular Cell Biology, Brandenburg University of Technology, 01968 Senftenberg, GermanyThe vascular endothelium, a monolayer of endothelial cells (EC), constitutes the inner cellular lining of arteries, veins and capillaries and therefore is in direct contact with the components and cells of blood. The endothelium is not only a mere barrier between blood and tissues but also an endocrine organ. It actively controls the degree of vascular relaxation and constriction, and the extravasation of solutes, fluid, macromolecules and hormones, as well as that of platelets and blood cells. Through control of vascular tone, EC regulate the regional blood flow. They also direct inflammatory cells to foreign materials, areas in need of repair or defense against infections. In addition, EC are important in controlling blood fluidity, platelet adhesion and aggregation, leukocyte activation, adhesion, and transmigration. They also tightly keep the balance between coagulation and fibrinolysis and play a major role in the regulation of immune responses, inflammation and angiogenesis. To fulfill these different tasks, EC are heterogeneous and perform distinctly in the various organs and along the vascular tree. Important morphological, physiological and phenotypic differences between EC in the different parts of the arterial tree as well as between arteries and veins optimally support their specified functions in these vascular areas. This review updates the current knowledge about the morphology and function of endothelial cells, particularly their differences in different localizations around the body paying attention specifically to their different responses to physical, biochemical and environmental stimuli considering the different origins of the EC.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/18/4411endotheliumshear stressangiogenesisglycocalyxthrombosis |
| spellingShingle | Anne Krüger-Genge Anna Blocki Ralf-Peter Franke Friedrich Jung Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update International Journal of Molecular Sciences endothelium shear stress angiogenesis glycocalyx thrombosis |
| title | Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update |
| title_full | Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update |
| title_fullStr | Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update |
| title_short | Vascular Endothelial Cell Biology: An Update |
| title_sort | vascular endothelial cell biology an update |
| topic | endothelium shear stress angiogenesis glycocalyx thrombosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/18/4411 |
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