title: Unwrapping the origins and roles of the renal endothelium.
abstract: The renal vasculature, like all vessels, is lined by a thin layer of simple squamous epithelial cells called an endothelium. These endothelial-lined vessels can be subdivided into four major compartments: arteries, veins, capillaries and lymphatics. The renal vasculature is a highly integrated network that forms through the active processes of angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. Determination of the precise contribution of these two processes and of the molecular signaling that governs the differentiation, specification and maturation of these critical cell populations is the focus of an actively evolving field of research. Although much of the focus has concentrated on the origin of the glomerular capillaries, in this review we extend the investigation to the origins of the endothelial cells throughout the entire kidney and the signaling events that cause their distinct functional and molecular profiles. A thorough understanding of endothelial cell biology may play a critical role in a better understanding of renal vascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Center for Biologic Imaging, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Donna Beer
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Stolz
authors.forename: Sunder
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sims-Lucas
mesh_terms: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004729:Endothelium, Lymphatic / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D038081:Organogenesis; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012082:Renal Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins