Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Aug 23:16:3593-3617.
doi: 10.2147/JIR.S418166. eCollection 2023.

Research Progress and Molecular Mechanisms of Endothelial Cells Inflammation in Vascular-Related Diseases

Affiliations
Review

Research Progress and Molecular Mechanisms of Endothelial Cells Inflammation in Vascular-Related Diseases

Jiaojiao Xue et al. J Inflamm Res. .

Abstract

Endothelial cells (ECs) are widely distributed inside the vascular network, forming a vital barrier between the bloodstream and the walls of blood vessels. These versatile cells serve myriad functions, including the regulation of vascular tension and the management of hemostasis and thrombosis. Inflammation constitutes a cascade of biological responses incited by biological, chemical, or physical stimuli. While inflammation is inherently a protective mechanism, dysregulated inflammation can precipitate a host of vascular pathologies. ECs play a critical role in the genesis and progression of vascular inflammation, which has been implicated in the etiology of numerous vascular disorders, such as atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and sepsis. Upon activation, ECs secrete potent inflammatory mediators that elicit both innate and adaptive immune reactions, culminating in inflammation. To date, no comprehensive and nuanced account of the research progress concerning ECs and inflammation in vascular-related maladies exists. Consequently, this review endeavors to synthesize the contributions of ECs to inflammatory processes, delineate the molecular signaling pathways involved in regulation, and categorize and consolidate the various models and treatment strategies for vascular-related diseases. It is our aspiration that this review furnishes cogent experimental evidence supporting the established link between endothelial inflammation and vascular-related pathologies, offers a theoretical foundation for clinical investigations, and imparts valuable insights for the development of therapeutic agents targeting these diseases.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; cardiovascular diseases; diabetes mellitus; endothelial cells; endothelial inflammation; vascular-related diseases.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship between endothelial cells inflammation models and related diseases.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Signaling pathways involved in the regulation of endothelial cells inflammation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Inflammation- Vascular- Disease- Pathological States.

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Xu S, Jin T, Weng J. Endothelial cells as a key cell type for innate immunity: a focused review on RIG-I signaling pathway. Front Immunol. 2022;13:951614. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.951614 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Xu S, Ilyas I, Little PJ, et al. Endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and beyond: from mechanism to pharmacotherapies. Pharmacol Rev. 2021;73(3):924–967. doi:10.1124/pharmrev.120.000096 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Theofilis P, Sagris M, Oikonomou E, et al. Inflammatory mechanisms contributing to endothelial dysfunction. Biomedicines. 2021;9(7):781. doi:10.3390/biomedicines9070781 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Michiels C. Endothelial cell functions. Cell Physiol. 2003;196(3):430–443. doi:10.1002/jcp.10333 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Coggins M, Rosenzweig A. The fire within: cardiac inflammatory signaling in health and disease. Circ Res. 2012;110(1):116–125. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.243196 - DOI - PubMed