What is the shape of endothelial cells?

In all vessels, the endothelial cells were highly elongated polygons, usually hexagonal, which were oriented along the vessel axis. The clefts were highly oriented with a preferred orientation which was parallel to the vessel axis.

How are endothelial cells adapted to their function?

For example, the endothelial cells have mechanoreceptors that allow them to sense the shear stress due to flow of blood over their surface; by signaling this information to the surrounding cells, they enable the blood vessel to adapt its diameter and wall thickness to suit the blood flow.

How do endothelial cells regenerate?

The ability of the endothelial cell to release relaxing factors can be upregulated by impregnation with estrogens, exercise and antioxidants, and down-regulated by oxidative stress and increased presence of oxidized LDL. Following injury or apoptotic death, the endothelium regenerates.

What is endothelial cell differentiation?

Endothelial cell (EC) differentiation from human adult stem cells (hASCs) Adult stem cells (ASCs), which are generally tissue-specific and can differentiate into cells of the tissue of origin, exist in fully developed tissues such as the bone marrow, dental pulp, and peripheral blood.

What is the function of endothelial cells?

The endothelium is a thin membrane that lines the inside of the heart and blood vessels. Endothelial cells release substances that control vascular relaxation and contraction as well as enzymes that control blood clotting, immune function and platelet (a colorless substance in the blood) adhesion.

What is special about endothelial cells?

Endothelial cells form the inner lining of a blood vessel and provides an anticoagulant barrier between the vessel wall and blood. In addition to its role as a selective permeability barrier, the endothelial cell is a unique multifunctional cell with critical basal and inducible metabolic and synthetic functions.

How do endothelial cells control vasoconstriction?

Activation of ET-B1 receptors on the endothelium causes vasodilatation by inducing the release of NO and PGI2 [73, 74]. In ED, ET-B1 receptors on the endothelial cells are downregulated, while ET-B2 receptors on smooth muscle cells are upregulated, thus enhancing vasoconstriction [75, 76].

How are endothelial cells formed?

Endothelial cells originate from the mesoderm, a germinal layer that forms at gastrulation, an early embryonic development stage (Bautch and Caron, 2015).