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The cardiac endothelium: functional morphology, development, and physiology
D L Brutsaert1, G W De Keulenaer, P Fransen
1Laboratory of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology, Antwerp University, Belgium.
Insights
Cardiac endothelial cells influence heart function by modulating cardiomyocyte performance, controlling ventricular relaxation and filling. This review explores their mechanisms, including ion gradients and cardioactive substances.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cellular Physiology
Background:
- Cardiac endothelial cells (CECs) are crucial for heart function.
- CECs originate from endocardial and coronary microvascular sources.
- They directly influence cardiomyocyte mechanical performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review CEC morphology, embryology, and comparative physiology.
- To summarize experimental findings on CEC effects on heart mechanics.
- To elucidate mechanisms of CEC-cardiomyocyte interaction.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of CEC morphology, embryology, and physiology.
- Analysis of experimental studies on CECs and cardiac mechanics.
- Examination of proposed interaction mechanisms.
Main Results:
- CECs modulate ventricular relaxation and rapid filling.
- Two primary interaction hypotheses exist: trans-endothelial ion gradients and release of cardioactive substances.
- Mechanisms may operate independently or synergistically.
Conclusions:
- CECs play a vital role in regulating cardiac mechanical performance.
- Understanding CEC-cardiomyocyte interactions is key to cardiac physiology.
- Mechanisms involve both direct cellular communication and paracrine signaling.
Abstract:
Cardiac endothelial cells, regardless of whether they are from endocardial or from coronary (micro)vascular origin, directly modulate performance of the subjacent cardiomyocytes, resulting in control of the onset of ventricular relaxation and rapid filling of the heart. This review summarizes major features of the morphology, embryology, and comparative physiology of cardiac endothelial cells as well as the experimental observations on how cardiac endothelial cells affect the mechanical performance of the heart. As for the underlying mechanisms of the interaction between cardiac endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes, two working hypotheses have been postulated over the past years; (1) interaction mediated through a trans-endothelial physicochemical gradient for various ions (active blood-heart barrier), and (2) interaction mediated through the release by the cardiac endothelial cells of various cardioactive substances, eg, nitric oxide, endothelin, and prostacyclin. These two mechanisms may act in concert or in parallel.