The vascular endothelium has been recognized to have a central importance in maintaining vascular homeostasis and in preventing cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of its function are extremely complex, and are principally determined by physical forces imposed on the endothelium by the flowing blood. In the present paper, we describe the interactions between the rheological properties of blood and the vascular endothelium. The role of shear stress, viscosity, cell-cell interactions, as well as the molecular mechanisms that are important for the transduction of these signals are discussed both in physiology and in pathology, with a particular attention to the role of reactive oxygen species. In the final conclusions, we propose an hypothesis regarding the implications of changes in blood viscosity, and particularly on the significance of secondary hyperviscosity syndromes.
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J Am Heart Assoc
January 2025
The Center for Vascular Disease and Translational Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital Central South University Changsha Hunan China.
Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an incurable disease initiated by endothelial dysfunction, secondary to vascular inflammation and occlusive pulmonary arterial vascular remodeling, resulting in elevated pulmonary arterial pressure and right heart failure. Previous research has reported that dysfunction of type 2 bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR2) signaling pathway in endothelium is inclined to prompt inflammation in PAH models, but the underlying mechanism of BMPR2 deficiency-mediated inflammation needs further investigation. This study was designed to investigate whether BMPR2 deficiency contributes to pulmonary arterial hypertension via the NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor family protein 3)/GSDME (gasdermin E)-mediated pyroptosis pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
January 2025
Metabolic and Immune Diseases Department, Biomedical Research Institute Sols-Morreale (IIBM), National Research Council (CSIC), Autonoma University of Madrid, Spain (T.A.-G., S.M.-T., R.C.-M., S.U.-B., S.M.-P.).
Background: Hypoxia is associated with the onset of cardiovascular diseases including cardiac hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension. HIF2 (hypoxia-inducible factor 2) signaling in the endothelium mediates pulmonary arterial remodeling and subsequent elevation of the right ventricular systolic pressure during chronic hypoxia. Thus, novel therapeutic opportunities for pulmonary hypertension based on specific HIF2 inhibitors have been proposed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnnual epidemics of influenza result in 3-5 million cases of severe illness and more than 600 000 deaths. Severe forms of influenza are usually characterized by vascular endothelial cells damage. Thus, influenza A viruses, including subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), as well as highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses, can infect the vascular endothelium, leading to activation and subsequent dysfunction of these cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypertension
January 2025
Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Sweden. (C.E., F.P., L.E., S.R.H.).
Background: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive pregnancy disorder marked by endothelial damage. Healthy endothelium is covered by a protective glycocalyx layer, which, when degraded, releases detectable products into the blood. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a cardiovascular biomarker involved in glycocalyx preservation, linked to placentation and preeclampsia development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Biol
January 2025
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from endothelial cells (ECs) are increasingly recognized for their role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. ECs experience varying degrees and types of blood flow depending on their specific arterial locations. In regions of disturbed flow, which are predominant sites for atherosclerotic plaque formation, the impact of disturbed flow on the secretion and function of ECs-derived EVs remains unclear.
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