ENDOTHELIAL-CELL FUNCTION - BIOLOGIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

Endothelial cells (EC) form a monolayer with a strategic role in the c ontrol of many physiologic and biologic pathways, Although the endothe lium initially was thought to be an inert and passive barrier of the v asculature, the diverse functions of EC have been better defined in th e past decade, EC play an important role in the control of coagulation , vasomotor tone, growth of vascular smooth muscle cells, white cell t rafficking, ischemic and reperfusion injuries, and the development of arteriosclerosis, Owing to their location in the arterial tree, EC als o are considered a potential target for gene therapy, The introduction of foreign DNA into EC by in vitro transfection with viral vectors ha s produced encouraging results when using genes that encode for protei ns such as insulin and urokinase. The seeding of EC onto vascular graf ts appears to convey the thromboresistant properties of saphenous vein to an artificial surface, This review focuses on the important biolog ic and physiologic functions of EC in health and disease.