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Endothelial Function in Health and Disease

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Arterial Disorders

Abstract

The endothelium is the principal regulator of vascular homeostasis. The primary functions of the endothelium include regulation of (1) vascular tone, (2) blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, (3) inflammatory responses and (4) vascular wall remodelling. The various functions of the endothelium operate under a delicate balance in order to ensure its optimal function. By orchestrating these functions, the endothelium fulfils an important role in the regulation of the functional integrity of the endothelium and in protecting against potentially harmful stimuli. Therefore, loss of this balance leads to a dysfunctional state in which the vasoconstrictor, prothrombotic and proliferative characteristics of the endothelium predominate; ultimately facilitating the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. These important endothelial characteristics will be described in detail in this chapter, whilst we also discuss prominent cardiovascular disease risk factors affecting endothelial function.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, 9101, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 30, Nijmegen, 6525 GA, The Netherlands

    Arno Greyling, Maria T. Hopman & Dick H. J. Thijssen

  2. Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

    Dick H. J. Thijssen

Authors
  1. Arno Greyling
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  2. Maria T. Hopman
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  3. Dick H. J. Thijssen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dick H. J. Thijssen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

    Adel Berbari

  2. University of Milano Bicocca IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

    Giuseppe Mancia

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Greyling, A., Hopman, M.T., Thijssen, D.H.J. (2015). Endothelial Function in Health and Disease. In: Berbari, A., Mancia, G. (eds) Arterial Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14556-3_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14556-3_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-14555-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-14556-3

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