Sites of Injury: The Endothelium

摘要: An estimated 6 × 1013 endothelial cells form the inner surface of blood vessels in man. As such, an adult human being they cover a total area approximately 3,000 m2 and have volume comparable to that liver (Huttner Gabbiani 1982; Munzel et al. 2008). Traditionally, endothelium has been assumed be passive barrier between surrounding tissue; however, over past 2–3 decades numerous additional roles for described. These findings challenge concept as interface leads notion highly active organ involved regulation modulation vast number physiological pathophysiological processes. Endothelial are essential vascular tone, control transendothelial movement fluid, solutes macromolecules, inflammation leukocyte adhesion, promotion inhibition growth new fluidity platelet aggregation, fibrinolysis coagulation.