Cells of the Blood Vessel Wall Flashcards
What adhesion complexes play a role in cell-substratum and cell-cell adhesion?
- Cell-substrate adhesion molecules - Integrins
- Cell-cell adhesion molecules - cadherin, occludin
What are the effects of prostaglandins on the endothelium?
- Relax smooth muscle
- Inhibit platelet aggregation
What are the effects of NO on endothelium?
- Inhbit platelet adhesion and aggregation
- Relax vascular smooth muscle
What are endothelins and what are their effects? Example?
Family of potent vasoconstrictive proteins; Angiotensin II
What role do class II histocompatibility antigens play on endothelial cells? What adverse reaction are they part of?
May work with monocytes/lymphocytes in immune function; Organ rejection and graft arteriosclerosis
What is the relationship between smooth muscle cells and endothelium.
- Help to control blood flow
- SM synthesizes connective tissue matrix of vessel wall
- Supply GFs, cytokines/chemokines
What cells are important for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis?
Macrophages and lymphocytes
How can one differentiate betwixt an endothelial progenitor cell and a mature endothelial cell?
- EPC - expresses CD133 but not endothelial cadherin or von Willebrand factor
What are endothelial progenitor cells?
Bone marrow-derived cells arising from perinatal hemangioblasts, and are present in adult BM and peripheral circulation
What can EPCs allow the body to do?
Vasculogenesis - differentation of angioblasts into endothelial cells that form a vascular network de novo
What is the relationship betwixt EPCs and various forms of vascular disease?
EPCs are decreased
