Abstract
Endothelial cells line the luminal surface of all blood vessels in the body. The endothelial surface in adult humans is composed of approximately l-6×l013 cells and covers an area of 1-7 m2. Endothelium serves many functions, including fluid and solute exchange through cell contraction, provision of an antithrombogenic surface through tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and prostacyclin release, synthesis of angiogenic factors such as adenosine, allowance of leukocyte trafficking through adhesion molecule synthesis, presentation of antigens to the immune system, maintenance of vascular tone through nitric oxide and endothelin synthesis, and metabolism of circulating molecules through the release of enzymes such as lipoprotein lipase.
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© 2001 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
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Gallicchio, M.A. (2001). Culture of Human Endothelial Cells. In: Drew, A.F. (eds) Atherosclerosis. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 52. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-073-X:147
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-073-X:147
Publisher Name: Humana Press
Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-751-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-073-5
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