Endothelial Cell Function in Hemostasis and Thrombosis

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Abstract
The endothelium comprises a single layer of polygonal cells lining the entire length of blood vessels. It plays a pivotal role in modulating a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic processes including hemostasis, thrombosis, inflammation and immune responses.1 This review will focus on the endothelial cell function in hemostasis and thrombosis. Hemostasis is a complex event involving multiple interactions between blood cells and the damaged vessel wall, the coagulation proteins and blood cell constituents and the cell-cell interactions. These complex biologic processes generally do not occur without endothelial damage. Intact endothelium appears to function not only as a physical barrier which blocks active interaction between the cellular and protein constituents of blood and the vessel wall but also as a biologically active tissue capable of synthesizing compounds that promote and control hemostatic function. Moreover, its surface possesses specific properties for modulating certain key reactions in the coagulation cascade.

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