title: Role of the endothelium in inflammatory bowel diseases.
abstract: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are a complex group of diseases involving alterations in mucosal immunity and gastrointestinal physiology during both initiation and progressive phases of the disease. At the core of these alterations are endothelial cells, whose continual adjustments in structure and function coordinate vascular supply, immune cell emigration, and regulation of the tissue environment. Expansion of the endothelium in IBD (angiogenesis), mediated by inflammatory growth factors, cytokines and chemokines, is a hallmark of active gut disease and is closely related to disease severity. The endothelium in newly formed or inflamed vessels differs from that in normal vessels in the production of and response to inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules, altering coagulant capacity, barrier function and blood cell recruitment in injury. This review examines the roles of the endothelium in the initiation and propagation of IBD pathology and distinctive features of the intestinal endothelium contributing to these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932, United States.
authors.forename: Walter E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Cromer
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mathis
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: Ganta V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Chaitanya
authors.forename: J Steven
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000276:immunology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D018925:Chemokines / Q000276:immunology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III