Biomaterial Database

Endothelial cell dysfunction as a novel therapeutic target in atherosclerosis. 2016

Hanna A Jensen, and Jawahar L Mehta

a Department of Biomedical Engineering , University of Arkansas , Fayetteville , AR , USA.

BACKGROUND Dysfunction of vessel endothelium is the first step in a complex and multi-faceted process that eventually leads to initiation of the plaque, formation of atherosclerotic lesions and their complications. The extremely fine-regulated endothelium is the gatekeeper of vascular health, and has been the target of a substantial amount of research. METHODS This review examines some of the most common associations between therapies of cardiovascular disease and the endothelium, and summarizes the direction of research that may set the stage for one or more interventions targeted to repair damaged and/or dysfunctional endothelium. Expert commentary: Routine treatment of cardiovascular disease has frequently been shown to have a positive effect on the vascular endothelium. The big question - whether the impact is due to a direct pharmacological effect or whether the function of the endothelium improves as a result of a general improvement in the underlying disease state, is still largely unanswered.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002318	Cardiovascular Diseases	Pathological conditions involving the CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM including the HEART; the BLOOD VESSELS; or the PERICARDIUM.	Adverse Cardiac Event,Cardiac Events,Major Adverse Cardiac Events,Adverse Cardiac Events,Cardiac Event,Cardiac Event, Adverse,Cardiac Events, Adverse,Cardiovascular Disease,Disease, Cardiovascular,Event, Cardiac
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D042783	Endothelial Cells	Highly specialized EPITHELIAL CELLS that line the HEART; BLOOD VESSELS; and lymph vessels, forming the ENDOTHELIUM. They are polygonal in shape and joined together by TIGHT JUNCTIONS. The tight junctions allow for variable permeability to specific macromolecules that are transported across the endothelial layer.	Capillary Endothelial Cells,Lymphatic Endothelial Cells,Vascular Endothelial Cells,Capillary Endothelial Cell,Cell, Capillary Endothelial,Cell, Endothelial,Cell, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cell, Vascular Endothelial,Cells, Capillary Endothelial,Cells, Endothelial,Cells, Lymphatic Endothelial,Cells, Vascular Endothelial,Endothelial Cell,Endothelial Cell, Capillary,Endothelial Cell, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cell, Vascular,Endothelial Cells, Capillary,Endothelial Cells, Lymphatic,Endothelial Cells, Vascular,Lymphatic Endothelial Cell,Vascular Endothelial Cell
D050197	Atherosclerosis	A thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of ARTERIES that occurs with formation of ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES within the ARTERIAL INTIMA.	Atherogenesis,Atherogeneses,Atheroscleroses
D058226	Plaque, Atherosclerotic	Lesions formed within the walls of ARTERIES associated with deposits of fat and other substances that accumulate in the lining of the artery wall.	Atheromatous Plaque,Atheroma,Atheromatous Plaques,Atherosclerotic Plaque,Atherosclerotic Plaques,Fatty Streak, Arterial,Fibroatheroma,Fibroatheromatous Plaques,Arterial Fatty Streak,Arterial Fatty Streaks,Atheromas,Fibroatheromas,Fibroatheromatous Plaque,Plaque, Atheromatous,Plaque, Fibroatheromatous,Streak, Arterial Fatty