Endothelial Dysfunction: Mechanisms and Clinical Impact

Endothelial cells form a specialized monolayer lining the interior of blood and lymphatic vessels and play a central role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. They regulate vascular tone, permeability, hemostasis, angiogenesis, inflammation, immune cell trafficking, and tissue repair through the balanced production of vasoactive mediators and signaling molecules. Disruption of these functions leads to endothelial dysfunction, a key event in the development of numerous chronic diseases. Oxidative stress, characterized by excessive ROS production, together with chronic inflammation, impairs endothelial function by reducing nitric oxide bioavailability, promoting vascular remodeling, thrombosis, and inflammatory activation. These alterations contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and are implicated in cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. This book presents an overview of endothelial cell biology, the molecular mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction, and the interplay between oxidative stress and inflammation.