title: Endothelial dysfunction and activation as an expression of disease: role of prostacyclin analogs.
abstract: The endothelium is now considered a real endocrine-paracrine organ, important not only as a structural barrier between the circulation and surrounding tissue, but also because it plays an essential role for local hemodynamics, releasing substances that modulate the vascular calibre and blood cell activation. Here, after a brief but detailed analysis of the importance of the endothelium in vascular homeostasis, in the control of coagulation and in the relations with the different blood cells, we will explain the concept of endothelial dysfunction (altered NO release) and activation (amplified adhesion molecule expression) in inflammatory, connective tissue and post-trasplantation diseases. Furthermore, this review will focus on the activity of prostacyclin and synthetic analogs, especially their ability to interact with the vasodilatation system and their role in modulating cell interaction by surface adhesion molecule expression, cytokines and growth factors release as well as gene transcription factors. Finally, we will consider the therapeutic role of prostacyclin analogs in the prevention and treatment of connective tissue diseases.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Biomedical Research (CIR), Laboratory of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Campus Bio-Medico University, School of Medicine, Via Emilio Longoni, 83-00155 Rome, Italy. e.zardi@unicampus.it
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zardi
authors.forename: Domenico Maria
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zardi
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacciapaglia
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobrina
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoroso
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Afeltra
mesh_terms: D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008954:Models, Biological; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D011464:Epoprostenol