Issue title: Selected Papers from 1st Meeting on “Cardiovascular Biology: Endothelial Cell in Health and Hypertension”, 30 June–1 July 2006, Prague, Czech Republic
Affiliations: Nancy-Université, Université Henri Poincaré, CNRS–LEMTA, UMR 7563 Groupe Ingénierie Cellulaire et Tissulaire, Faculté de Médecine, 54500 Vandoeuvre Les Nancy, France | CHU Nancy–Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire et Tissulaire, 54500 Vandoeuvre Les Nancy, France
Note: [] Both authors contributed equally to this work.
Note: [] aaa
Abstract: Vascular endothelial cells form a monocellular layer on blood vessel walls with an estimated mass of 1.5 kg. One of the roles of endothelial cells is to control the hemodynamics through various metabolic activities affecting homeostasis, vascular tonus, blood fluidity, coagulating properties and blood cell adhesion. In other respects thousands of studies have underlined the crucial role of local blood flow conditions on their properties. However, the hemodynamic forces are different according to the anatomical site and to the type of blood vessels (arteries, veins, venules, ...). In microcirculation, the endothelial cells in the venules are particularly active and constitute the physiological site of liquid exchange (permeability) and above all cellular transit. During critical ischemia, the post-capillary venules are deeply involved. In other respects the properties of endothelial cells may be impaired in many diseases as atherosclerosis, hypertension, inflammation and metabolic diseases.
