Present throughout the vasculature, endothelial cells (ECs) are essential for blood vessel function and play a central role in the pathogenesis of diverse cardiovascular diseases. Lining the totality of the vascular system, the endothelium is a continuous barrier, the surface of which directly interacts with nearly every system in the body to regulate vascular development, homeostasis and pathogenesis. Maintenance of vessel function, and therefore cardiovascular homeostasis, is highly dependent on the ability of the endothelium to react to external stimuli, mediating not only vasodilation and constriction but also thrombogenic, immune and inflammatory responses. (Monteiro et al, 2019) The endothelium contributes to key aspects of vascular homeostasis and is also involved in pathophysiological processes, such as thrombosis, inflammation, and hypertension. (Baselet et al, 2019)
Evidence has demonstrated that endothelial functions are essential to ensure proper maintenance of vascular homeostasis and that endothelial dysfunction is the hallmark of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases associated with pathological conditions toward vasoconstriction, thrombosis, and inflammatory state. (Godo, 2017)
Increased cardiovascular disease in aging is partly a consequence of the vascular endothelial cell (EC) senescence and associated vascular dysfunction. Dysregulation of cell cycle, oxidative stress, altered calcium signaling, hyperuricemia, and vascular inflammation have been implicated in the development and progression of EC senescence and vascular disease in aging. (Jia et al, 2019)
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Baselet B, Sonveaux P, Baatout S, Aerts A. Pathological effects of ionizing radiation: endothelial activation and dysfunction. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2019 Feb;76(4):699-728. doi: 10.1007/s00018-018-2956-z. Epub 2018 Oct 30. PMID: 30377700; PMCID: PMC6514067.
Godo S, Shimokawa H. Endothelial Functions. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2017 Sep;37(9):e108-e114. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.117.309813. PMID: 28835487.
Jia G, Aroor AR, Jia C, Sowers JR. Endothelial cell senescence in aging-related vascular dysfunction. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2019 Jul 1;1865(7):1802-1809. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2018.08.008. Epub 2018 Aug 18. PMID: 31109450.