Mast cells, hypoxia and structure of the vascular bed.
Mast cells represent a heterogeneous and multifunctional cells population distributed throughout tissues. Their participation in the response to chronic hypoxia is discussed in consideration to their role in the angiogenesis and remodeling of pulmonary vasculature, including relevance of proangiogenic factors, mediators and proteolytic enzymes released by activated mast cells. Possible mechanism of mast cells activation by hypoxia is considered.
Institute of Pathological Physiology of the Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, and Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Czech Republic. hana.maxova@lfmotol.cuni.cz
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Vízek
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology