[Endothelial function: role, assessment and limits]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Vascular Biology
• Biomedical Engineering

Context:

• Cardiovascular diseases are a major health concern, with endothelial dysfunction being an early indicator of atherosclerosis.
• The vascular endothelium plays a critical role in cardiovascular homeostasis.
• Assessing endothelial function is vital for understanding and managing cardiovascular health.

Purpose:

• To provide an overview of endothelial function and its importance in cardiovascular health.
• To review current biological and physico-chemical methods for assessing endothelial dysfunction.
• To discuss the clinical applications and limitations of these assessment techniques.

Summary:

• Endothelial dysfunction, characterized by reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, is a key factor in atherosclerosis development.
• Methods for assessment include biological assays measuring NO metabolites and inflammatory mediators, and physico-chemical techniques like flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and various optical methods.
• These techniques, often combined with provocation tests, offer insights into endothelial function but require further development for clinical reliability.

Impact:

• Highlights the significance of the endothelium as a cardiovascular organ.
• Discusses the potential of studying endothelial dysfunction for developing new therapeutic drugs.
• Emphasizes the need for advancements in non-invasive, reproducible, and cost-effective methods for endothelial dysfunction assessment.