Endothelial metabolism in pulmonary vascular homeostasis and acute respiratory distress syndrome

• Published in: American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology Vol. 321; no. 2; pp. L358 - L376
• Main Authors: Stevens, Reece P, Paudel, Sunita S, Johnson, Santina C, Stevens, Troy, Lee, Ji Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physiological Society 01.08.2021
• Series: Historical Article
• Subjects: Alveoli; Angiogenesis; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - transmission; COVID-19 - virology; Endothelial cells; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - virology; Epigenetics; Gene sequencing; Homeostasis; Humans; Lung diseases; Metabolism; Neovascularization, Pathologic - metabolism; Neovascularization, Pathologic - pathology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - virology; Oxidative stress; Permeability; Pulmonary Circulation; Respiratory distress syndrome; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - epidemiology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - metabolism; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - pathology; Respiratory Distress Syndrome - virology; Review; SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification; Subpopulations; Viral diseases; single-cell RNA-sequencing; bioenergetics; aerobic glycolysis; coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells
• ISSN: 1040-0605; 1522-1504
• DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00131.2021

Capillary endothelial cells possess a specialized metabolism necessary to adapt to the unique alveolar-capillary environment. Here, we highlight how endothelial metabolism preserves the integrity of the pulmonary circulation by controlling vascular permeability, defending against oxidative stress, facilitating rapid migration and angiogenesis in response to injury, and regulating the epigenetic landscape of endothelial cells. Recent reports on single-cell RNA-sequencing reveal subpopulations of pulmonary capillary endothelial cells with distinctive reparative capacities, which potentially offer new insight into their metabolic signature. Lastly, we discuss broad implications of pulmonary vascular metabolism on acute respiratory distress syndrome, touching on emerging findings of endotheliitis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lungs.