Comparison of Pulmonary and Systemic NO- and PGI-Dependent Endothelial Function in Diabetic Mice.

Diabetes increases the risk of pulmonary hypertension and is associated with alterations in pulmonary vascular function. Still, it is not clear whether alterations in the phenotype of pulmonary endothelium induced by diabetes are distinct, as compared to peripheral endothelium. In the present work, we characterized differences between diabetic complications in the lung and aorta in db/db mice with advanced diabetes.

Generation of functional endothelial cells with progenitor-like features from murine induced pluripotent stem cells.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have shown great potential in regenerative medicine and research applications like disease modeling or drug discovery. Endothelium is indispensable for vascular homeostasis, whereas endothelial dysfunction could lead to different diseases. Therefore, generating autologous cells, able to restore the endothelial lining, can be crucial for slowing or reversing certain pathological processes.

Nailfold capillaroscopy assessment of microcirculation abnormalities and endothelial dysfunction in children with primary or secondary Raynaud syndrome.

Raynaud syndrome (RS) manifests as episodes of transient spasms of peripheral blood vessels, most often in response to cold. The reason of that symptom (primary RS (pRS)) usually cannot be found but may be accompanied by some autoimmune diseases (secondary RS (sRS)). In this study, we assessed microcapillary status and serum concentrations of chosen cytokines, adhesive molecules, and nitric oxide (NO) in patients with pRS and sRS in comparison with healthy children.

[The detection of nitric oxide and NO-derivatives in the endothelial cells and tissues].

The correctly working endothelium produces suitable quantities of nitric oxide (NO) and other mediators, necessary for maintenance of homeostasis of cardiovascular system. Because of correlation between the availability of NO and the physiological state of the whole organism, monitoring the concentration of nitric oxide is essential for the better understanding of pathogenesis of many diseases. For this reason, there are intensive studies performed to develop new methods allowing the control of NO concentration in biological specimens.

[Endothelial mitochondria--a novel target for pharmacology of endothelial dysfunction].

Vascular endothelium the inside layer of the cardiovascular system is presently looked upon as an important paracrine, autocrine and endocrine organ that determines the health of the cardiovascular system. In fact, healthy endothelium is essential for homeostasis of cardiovascular system, while endothelial dyfunction leads to cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, diabetes and heart failure. Endothelial dysfunction is tightly linked to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, development of oxidant stress and inflammatory response of endothelium.