Morphofunctional characteristics of endothelial cells in coronary atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis represents a complex disease which encompasses all the components of the vascular wall. Nevertheless, according to all known theories of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the key role in this process belongs to the endothelial cells, i.e. the changes that they are subjected to esp...
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Published in | Archives of biological sciences Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 921 - 932 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad
2011
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Atherosclerosis represents a complex disease which encompasses all the
components of the vascular wall. Nevertheless, according to all known
theories of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the key role in this process
belongs to the endothelial cells, i.e. the changes that they are subjected to
especially during the initial stage of the lesion. In this review we have
attempted, according to the results of our continuous research and numerous
data from available modern literature, to show the cytohistological
characteristics of endothelial cells, as well as the changes they are
subjected to in all stages of atherosclerosis. In the first part we have
reviewed the ultrastructure, function and pathology of the endothelium,
subcellular organization of the endothelial cells, their specific
characteristics, micro compartments and intercellular junctions. In the
second part we have described the morphological and functional changes of
endothelial cells during atherosclerosis. Special attention is given to the
role of endothelial cells in the development of the initial stage of lesion:
endothelial dysfunction, factors that cause the increased expression of
adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and mechanisms that cause leukocytes
to migrate through the endothelial layer to subendothelial connective tissue
in the early stage of atherosclerosis.
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PR Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 41002 |
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ISSN: | 0354-4664 1821-4339 |
DOI: | 10.2298/ABS1104921L |