Endothelial Barrier Function and Leukocyte Transmigration in Atherosclerosis

Biomedicines, vol. 9, pp. 328

Abstract

The vascular endothelium is a highly specialized barrier that controls passage of fluids and migration of cells from the lumen into the vessel wall. Endothelial cells assist leukocytes to extravasate and despite the variety in the specific mechanisms utilized by different leukocytes to cross different vascular beds, there is a general principle of capture, rolling, slow rolling, arrest, crawling, and ultimately diapedesis via a paracellular or transcellular route. In atherosclerosis, the barrier function of the endothelium is impaired leading to uncontrolled leukocyte extravasation and vascular leakage. This is also observed in the neovessels that grow into the atherosclerotic plaque leading to intraplaque hemorrhage and plaque destabilization. This review focuses on the vascular endothelial barrier function and the interaction between endothelial cells and leukocytes during transmigration. We will discuss the role of endothelial dysfunction, transendothelial migration of leukocytes and plaque angiogenesis in atherosclerosis.

Authors 5

1. Thijs J. Sluiter Aachen Department of Vascular Surgery Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Jaap D. van Buul

   Sanquin · Van Leeuwenhoek Centre for Advanced Microscopy · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Leeuwenhoek Centre for Advanced Microscopy, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands

3. Stephan Huveneers

   Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam · Amsterdam University Medical Centers · Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

4. Paul H.A. Quax Aachen Department of Vascular Surgery Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Margreet R. de Vries corresponding Aachen Department of Vascular Surgery Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Vascular Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Einthoven Laboratory for Experimental Vascular Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands