Vascular Endothelial Cell (EC)

Vascular endothelial cells are specialized, flattened cells that form a single-cell-thick lining (the endothelium) on the interior surface of all blood vessels, including arteries, veins, and capillaries. This monolayer is in direct contact with circulating blood throughout the entire vascular system—from the heart to the smallest capillaries. They play diverse roles critical for vascular health and systemic physiology, including barrier function, vascular tone regulation, hemostasis, inflammation & immunity, angiogenesis and homeostasis maintenance. Dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells contributes to numerous diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombosis, sepsis/infection-induced vascular leak and cancer metastasis.

Other names

Endothelial CellBlood Vessel CellVascular Cell