Biology of the impaired endothelium

The endothelium is a regulatory organ that mediates hemostasis, contractility, cellular proliferation, and inflammatory mechanisms in the vessel wall. Injury to the endothelium from hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus disrupts normal regulatory properties and results in abnormal endothelial cell function. Clinically, endothelial cell dysfunction can be manifested as vasospasm, thrombus formation, atherosclerosis, or restenosis. The normal hemostatic properties of the endothelium include the maintenance of a nonadhesive luminal surface, antithrombotic properties, anticoagulant properties, and fibrinolytic properties. The endothelial cell regulates smooth muscle cell contractility by the production of relaxing and constricting factors in response to physiologic stimuli. Endothelial cell injury is also an initial event in the development of atherosclerosis and restenosis by facilitating platelet adhesion and aggregation and by signaling the release of mitogens from platelets, macrophages, and endothelial cells, which stimulate smooth muscle cell proliferation. In addition, endothelial cells undergo morphologic and functional alterations in response to cytokine signals, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of vasculitis and atherosclerosis. In sum, the normal endothelium performs many regulatory functions which become altered when the endothelium is injured.