SAQ: Endothelial cells in atherosclerosis

Question 1

Normal Protection

Answer 1

• Laminar shear stress is mechano-transduced to EC
• One transducer is c-Src
• Increase eNOS production
• NO produced

Question 2

Why NO is important

Answer 2

Opposes

• VSMC migration/proliferation
• Leukocyte adhesion
• Platelet recruitment

Question 3

ROS in dysfunctional ECs

Answer 3

• If arginine and co-factor BH4 are insufficient, eNOS will produce ROS
• NADPH (another eNOS co-factor) oxidation also produces ROS

Question 4

Adhesion molecules

Answer 4

• Secrete chemokines
• Express VCAM-1, ICAM-1, P/E-Selectins
• Facilitate leukocyte