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Endothelial dysfunction assessment may inform early vascular prevention; leaves open targeted NO-based therapies for clinicians and researchers.
he endothelial cells have an obligatory role in the relaxation of isolated arteries in response to acetylcholine. 1 This simple but seminal observation has brought recognition of the pivotal role of the endothelium in contributing to the physiological regulation of vasomotor control. This endothelium-dependent control is exerted by the release of several diffusible substances [(endotheliumderived relaxing (EDRF) and contracting (EDCF) factors] from the endothelial cells. This essay summarizes briefly the observations obtained mainly in the author's laboratory that have determined how the secretion by endothelial cells of the relaxing factors underlies moment-to-moment changes in the tone of the surrounding vascular smooth muscle cells, and how the inability of the endothelial cells to do so eventually initiates atherosclerosis and thus vascular disease.
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Paul M. Vanhoutte (2003) studied this question.
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