Venous endothelial function in cardiovascular disease
Open Access
- 23 November 2022
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Portland Press Ltd. in Bioscience Reports
- Vol. 42 (11)
- https://doi.org/10.1042/bsr20220285
Abstract
The essential role of the endothelium in vascular homeostasis is associated with the release of endothelium-dependent relaxing and contractile factors (EDRF and EDCF, respectively). Different from arteries, where these factors are widely studied, the vasoactive factors derived from the venous endothelium have been given less attention. There is evidence for a role of the nitric oxide (NO), endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH) mechanism, and cyclooxygenase (COX)-derived metabolites as EDRFs; while the EDCFs need to be better evaluated since no consensus has been reached about their identity in venous vessels. The imbalance between the synthesis, bioavailability, and/or action of EDRFs and/or EDCFs results in a pathological process known as endothelial dysfunction, which leads to reduced vasodilation and/or increased vasoconstriction. In the venous system, endothelial dysfunction is relevant since reduced venodilation may increase venous tone and decrease venous compliance, thus enhancing mean circulatory filling pressure, which maintains or modify cardiac workload contributing to the etiology of cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, some alterations in venous function appear at the early stages (or even before) the establishment of these diseases. However, if the venous endothelium dysfunction is involved in these alterations is not yet fully understood and requires further studies. In this sense, this article aims to review the current knowledge on venous endothelial function and dysfunction, and the general state of the venous tone in two important cardiovascular diseases of high incidence and morbimortality worldwide: hypertension and heart failure.Keywords
This publication has 121 references indexed in Scilit:
- Endothelium-dependent nitric oxide and hyperpolarization-mediated venous relaxation pathways in rat inferior vena cavaJournal of Vascular Surgery, 2012
- Endothelin ETBReceptors in Arteries and Veins: Multiple Actions in the VeinThe Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 2009
- Effects of bradykinin on venous capacitance in health and treated chronic heart failureClinical Science, 2009
- A comparison of reactive oxygen species metabolism in the rat aorta and vena cava: focus on xanthine oxidaseAmerican Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 2008
- Systemic Regulation of Vascular NAD(P)H Oxidase Activity and Nox Isoform Expression in Human Arteries and VeinsArteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, 2004
- gp91phox-Containing NADPH Oxidase Mediates Endothelial Dysfunction in Renovascular HypertensionJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 2004
- Forearm venous distensibility in relation to severity of symptoms and hemodynamic data in patients with congestive heart failure.Japanese Heart Journal, 1991
- Difference between Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Arterial and in Venous Coronary Bypass GraftsThe New England Journal of Medicine, 1988
- The obligatory role of endothelial cells in the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholineNature, 1980
- Peripheral Venoconstriction in Human Congestive Heart FailureJournal of the American College of Cardiology, 1956