The Endothelium in Cardiovascular Disease: Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation and Pharmacotherapy

The Endothelium as a Regulator of Vascular Tone and Growth.- Effects of Physical and Pharmacological Interventions on Circulating Endothelin-1 Levels in Humans.- The Role of Endothelin in Congestive Heart Failure.- Endothelin as a Regulator of Vascular Tone in Man: Studies in Upper Limb Resistance and Capacitance Vessels.- Systemic and Endocrine Effects of Endothelin in Humans.- Endothelin in Hypertension and Vascular Hypertrophy: Experimental Studies.- Role of Endogenous Endothelin in Myocardial Ischemia and Nitric Oxide-Deficient Hypertension.- Endothelin and Renal Function: From Theory to Therapy.- The Endothelium and the Pathogenesis of Chronic Vascular Diseases: The Protective Role of Calcium Antagonists.- Insulin and the Regulation of the Cardiovascular System: Role of the L-arginine Nitric Oxide Pathway and the Sympathetic Nervous System.- Endothelin Receptor Antagonists as New Tools to Inhibit Endothelin induced Vasoconstriction in Humans: Comparison with Calcium Channel Blockers.- Endothelial Dysfunction: Clinical Applicability of Calcium Antagonist Drugs.- Endothelin in Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus.- Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation in the Peripheral Circulation in Humans In Vivo: Effects of Hypertension and Aging.- Endothelin and Pulmonary Hypertension.

The endothelium is an important regulator of the cardiovascular system by releasing nitric oxide, prostacyclin, endothelin-1, and other endothelium-derived constricting factors which are able to profoundly affect vascular tone and the function of circulating blood cells such as platelets and monocytes. In addition, the endothelium is a source of factors which can activate or inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. Endothelial dysfunction, with an imbalanced production of these factors, therefore, can profoundly affect vascular tone and structure as well as the function of circulating blood cells. Endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated in various forms of cardiovascular diseasae. Cardiovascular drugs already in clinical use or in development are able to interfere with certain aspects of endothelial function and may be useful in protecting the vessels and, hence, in preventing the development of cardiovascular disease.