Pulmonary vascular endothelial cell (PVEC)

Pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PVECs) constitute the specialized semi-permeable barrier between the blood and the lung interstitium, playing a vital role in gas exchange and the regulation of pulmonary blood flow (Stevens, 2011). These cells are highly active metabolic units that respond to mechanical forces and chemical signals to maintain vascular homeostasis through the production of nitric oxide, prostacyclin, and endothelin-1 (Budhiraja et al., 2004). While PVECs are a cell type rather than a single molecular target, they express numerous therapeutic targets such as endothelin receptors and phosphodiesterase-5, which are central to the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (Humbert et al., 2019). Dysfunction of the pulmonary endothelium leads to increased vascular resistance, inflammation, and capillary leak, contributing to the pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and various chronic lung diseases (Ware & Matthay, 2000). Consequently, protecting or restoring endothelial function is a primary goal in pulmonary pharmacology and critical care medicine.

Other names

Pulmonary endotheliumLung microvascular endothelial cellsLMVECPulmonary artery endothelial cellsPAECPulmonary capillary endothelial cells

Pharmacological agents do not target the cell as a whole but rather modulate specific molecular pathways within or on the surface of these cells, such as antagonizing endothelin receptors, activating prostacyclin receptors, or inhibiting phosphodiesterase-5 to induce vasodilation and inhibit pathological remodeling (Humbert et al., 2019).