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Endothelial cells line the blood and lymphatic vessels of the body. They do much more than simply function as a lining, however. Endothelial cells are critical for maintenance of vessel function, tone, blood pressure, and angiogenesis. Endothelial cells actively receive signals from the blood and relay them to the vessel, and signal back to the…

The Circulation System and Endothelial Cell Function A healthy circulation system is critical for normal physiological function; Arteries, veins, and, capillaries transverse the body providing an essential blood supply to tissue. Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body tissues, while veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Capillaries are the…

The Good: Endothelial cells make up the inner lining of blood and lymphatic vessels. Vascular endothelial cells specifically line the entire circulatory system including small blood vessels (microvascular), large blood vessels (macrovascular), and the heart. Here is a short list of their important functions in the human body: Control blood pressure by modulating vascular tone Prevent…

Cigarette smoking is one of the primary risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In fact, the American Heart Association reports that smoking-related diseases are responsible for > 440,000 deaths in the US each year. Cigarette smoke contains hundreds of chemical toxicants, which can damage the cardiovascular system, and increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis…

Cancer Biology: Learnings from Transcriptomics Analysis Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells, or HUVECs as they are more commonly known, are widely utilized as an in vitro model system for studying physiological and pathological processes of the vascular system. Endothelial cells line the inside of blood vessels and have a central role in angiogenesis, the formation…

Endothelial Cells, Microvascular Endothelial Cells, and Cardiac Cells Cardiac cells and endothelial cells are two of the most important cell types that make up the heart tissue and blood vessels of the body’s vascular system. Almost all tissues rely on a blood supply for nutrients and gas exchange, which is supplied by a complex network…

The Circulatory System: The Blood Delivery System The circulatory system delivers the blood and oxygen that all tissues of the body require for normal operation. In particular, the arteries, veins, and capillaries that transport the blood throughout the body are lined by a layer of endothelial cells, which help to maintain blood and vessel homeostasis.…

Endothelial Cells and Peripheral Arterial Disease Endothelial cells comprise the innermost later of blood vessels, forming a barrier between the circulating blood and the tissues of the body. In particular, endothelial cells participate in extensive crosstalk with the blood to maintain vascular homeostasis. Endothelial cells are particularly important in cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis occurs…