Chronic Inflammatory Diseases and Endothelial Dysfunction

Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

Chronic inflammatory diseases are associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). As the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is increasingly recognized as an inflammatory process, similarities between atherosclerosis and systemic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, lupus, psoriasis, spondyloarthritis and o...

Mechanisms of inflammatory endothelial dysfunction

Background Inflammation is important in the development, progression and acute complications of atherosclerosis. Increased levels of inflammatory markers in humans predict the occurrence of future atherothrombotic events. Recognised risk factors for atherosclerosis have been shown to cause endothelial dysfunction, characterised by impaired endothelial nitric oxide-dependent vasodilator response...

Tetrahydrobiopterin and Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardiovascular Diseases

Endothelial vasodilator dysfunction is a characteristic feature of patients at risk for coronary atherosclerosis. We have reported that insulin resistance may be a pathogenic factor for endothelial dysfunction through impaired endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and increased oxidative breakdown of nitric oxide (NO) due to an enhanced formation of superoxide anion, which are cause...

Endothelial Progenitor Cell Dysfunction in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Implications for The Genesis of Cardiovascular Diseases

Endothelial Response to Glucocorticoids in Inflammatory Diseases

The endothelium plays a crucial role in inflammation. A balanced control of inflammation requires the action of glucocorticoids (GCs), steroidal hormones with potent cell-specific anti-inflammatory properties. Besides the classic anti-inflammatory effects of GCs on leukocytes, recent studies confirm that endothelial cells also represent an important target for GCs. GCs regulate different aspect...