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Metabolic and Clearance Function at the Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Surface in Pulmonary Hypertension

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Book cover Textbook of Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Abstract

The intimal lining of all blood vessels is composed of a single continuous layer of squamous epithelial cells which are known as endothelial cells (ECs). The vascular endothelium is a “dynamic” highly specialized tissue with multiple physiological, immunological, and metabolic functions. Currently, the endothelium is viewed as a tissue comprising functionally heterogeneous ECs, depending on the organ with which it is associated, and the vascular bed location. ECs may be affected by numerous noxious agents and compounds, leading to diverse “endotheliopathies” present in a wide spectrum of acute and chronic abnormalities, such as sepsis, acute lung injury (ALI), and pulmonary arterial hypertension. In the human lung, ECs occupy a surface area of approximately 130 m2. The strategic location of the lungs, combined with the tremendous surface area of the pulmonary microvascular endothelium, allows for interaction with the entire circulating blood volume before it enters the systemic circulation. Thus, pulmonary endothelial functional and structural integrity are essential for the maintenance of adequate pulmonary and systemic cardiovascular homeostasis. This chapter focuses on the physiology and pathophysiology of the pulmonary endothelial metabolic functions, on methods that measure pulmonary microvascular metabolic activities in vivo, and on the application of such methods in the clinical setting, especially in patients suffering from pulmonary hypertension.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 2nd Department of Critical Care, University of Athens Medical School and Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic, Attikon Hospital, Haidari, Athens, 12462, Greece

    Stylianos E. Orfanos

Authors
  1. Stylianos E. Orfanos
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  2. David Langleben
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Correspondence to Stylianos E. Orfanos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine, COMRB Rm. 3131 (MC 719), University of Illinois at Chicago, 909 South Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, 60612, Illinois, USA

    Jason X. -J. Yuan

  2. 310 Admin.Office Building (MC 672), University of Illinois at Chicago, 1737 W. Polk Street, Suite 310, Chicago, 60612, Illinois, USA

    Joe G.N. Garcia

  3. Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, 92093-0623, California, USA

    John B. West

  4. Dept. Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, 02114, Massachusetts, USA

    Charles A. Hales

  5. Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, 60637, Illinois, USA

    Stuart Rich

  6. Department of Medicine, University of Chicago School of Medicine, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, 60637, Illinois, USA

    Stephen L. Archer

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Orfanos, S.E., Langleben, D. (2011). Metabolic and Clearance Function at the Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Surface in Pulmonary Hypertension. In: Yuan, JJ., Garcia, J., West, J., Hales, C., Rich, S., Archer, S. (eds) Textbook of Pulmonary Vascular Disease. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-87429-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-87429-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-87429-6

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