Open AccessDevelopment of the Endothelium: An Emphasis on Heterogeneity
Author(s) -
Laura A. Dyer,
Cam Patterson
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1098-9064
pISSN - 0094-6176
DOI - 10.1055/s-0030-1253446
Subject(s) - endothelium , lymphatic endothelium , lymphatic system , biology , lymph , microbiology and biotechnology , endothelial stem cell , intracellular , population , vascular permeability , immunology , pathology , medicine , endocrinology , genetics , in vitro , environmental health
The endothelium is composed of specialized epithelial cells that line the vasculature, the lymph vessels, and the heart. These endothelial cells are characterized by their stratification and are connected via intercellular junctions that confer specific permeability. Although all endothelium acts as a barrier, considerable heterogeneity exists among different organs and even within vessels. During development, the endothelial cells are specified before they migrate to their final destination, and then they commit to an arterial or venous fate. From the venous endothelial cell population, a subset of cells is further specified as lymphatic endothelium. The endothelium can be highly permeable, as in the lymph vessels, or impenetrable, as in the blood-brain barrier. These differences arise during development and are orchestrated through a series of signaling pathways. This review details how endothelial cells arise and are directed to their specific fate, specifically targeting what differentiates endothelial populations.