Abstract: Proper blood vessel formation and function is crucial for embryogenesis, wound healing, pregnancy and diseases. The interaction of endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells/pericytes is critical for assembling and maintaining blood vessels. Previously, our lab and other groups showed that endothelial cells play an important role in governing vascular smooth muscle cell functions. To further investigate the signaling mechanisms that govern the interaction of vascular cells, we screened for genes and microRNAs whose expression was significantly altered by the endothelial cell-smooth muscle cell interaction.

In the last several years, the development of reagents that recognize smooth muscle-specific proteins has enabled researchers to identify smooth muscle cells (SMC) in tissue undergoing both differentiation and repair. These developments have led to increased research on SMC. The latest volume in the Biology of the Extracellular Matrix Series takes a current and all-encompassing look at this growing area of research. Devoted entirely to the subject of SMC, the book covers a diversity of topics-from SMC architecture and contractility to differentiation and gene expression in development. It also examines the proliferation and replication of SMC and its role in pharmacology and vascular disease. A must for cell, developmental, and molecular biologists, this book also will appeal to cardiologists, pathologists, and biomedical researchers interested in smooth muscle cells. Presents a molecular, genetic, and developmental perspective of the vas smooth muscle cell Overview sections highlight key points of chapters, including the clinical relevance of the research and expectations for future study Appeals to both the basic biologist and to the biomedical researcher of vascular disease

​Vascular management and care has become a truly multidisciplinary enterprise as the number of specialists involved in the treatment of patients with vascular diseases has steadily increased. While in the past, treatments were delivered by individual specialists, in the twenty-first century a team approach is without doubt the most effective strategy. In order to promote professional excellence in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field, a shared knowledge base and interdisciplinary standards need to be established. Pan Vascular Medicine, 2nd edition has been designed to offer such an interdisciplinary platform, providing vascular specialists with state-of-the art descriptive and procedural knowledge. Basic science, diagnostics, and therapy are all comprehensively covered. In a series of succinct, clearly written chapters, renowned specialists introduce and comment on the current international guidelines and present up-to-date reviews of all aspects of vascular care.

Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway in multicellular organisms that regulates cell-fate determination during development and in stem cells. This volume, which is part of the Current Topics in Developmental Biology series, covers topics such as Notch signaling in cardiac development and disease and Notch in stem cells. International authors provide researchers with an overview and synthesis of the latest research findings and contemporary thought in the area. Covers topics such as Notch signaling in cardiac development and disease, and Notch in stem cells International authors provide researchers with an overview and synthesis of the latest research findings and contemporary thought in the area

The Vasculome: From Many, One introduces the fundamental bases of the “unity in diversity of the Vasculome, from the coming together of various cell lineages during development, to its deceptively simple solution for architectural design: the efficient interplay of a few types of building blocks supporting key similar functions throughout the body and their highly specialized functional local variations. Specific examples are included to illustrate how the Vasculome is integral to the function and malfunction of different organs, such as the brain or the kidney. Each section is preceded by an introductory summary that will give a high level unified view of the key concepts illustrated in the various chapters in that section. Zorina Galis' The Vasculome was named a finalist in the Clinical Medicine category of the American Association of Publishers’ 2023 PROSE Awards. 2023 PROSE Awards - Winner: Finalist: Clinical Medicine: Association of American Publishers Brings together leading experts who present the latest biomedical thinking about the vasculature from the integrative perspective of the Vasculome Challenges traditional real and perceived boundaries within vascular research areas and stimulates new fundamental thinking and medical explorations Creates the bases for translating the integrative Vasculome concept into improved fundamental and clinical assessment and management of local and systemic contributions of the vasculature in health and disease

This volume of the series Cardiac and Vascular Biology presents the most relevant aspects of vascular mechanobiology along with many more facets of this fascinating, timely and clinically highly relevant field. Mechanotransduction, mechanosensing, fluid shear stress, hameodynamics and cell fate, are just a few topics to name. All important aspects of vascular mechanobiology in health and disease are reviewed by some of the top experts in the field. This volume, together with a second title on cardiac mechanobiology featured in this series, will be of high relevance to scientists and clinical researchers in the area of vascular biology, cardiology and biomedical engineering.

The endothelium, a monolayer of endothelial cells, constitutes the inner cellular lining of the blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) and the lymphatic system, and therefore is in direct contact with the blood/lymph and the circulating cells. The endothelium is a major player in the control of blood fluidity, platelet aggregation and vascular tone, a major actor in the regulation of immunology, inflammation and angiogenesis, and an important metabolizing and an endocrine organ. Endothelial cells controls vascular tone, and thereby blood flow, by synthesizing and releasing relaxing and contracting factors such as nitric oxide, metabolites of arachidonic acid via the cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases and cytochrome P450 pathways, various peptides (endothelin, urotensin, CNP, adrenomedullin, etc.), adenosine, purines, reactive oxygen species and so on. Additionally, endothelial ectoenzymes are required steps in the generation of vasoactive hormones such as angiotensin II. An endothelial dysfunction linked to an imbalance in the synthesis and/or the release of these various endothelial factors may explain the initiation of cardiovascular pathologies (from hypertension to atherosclerosis) or their development and perpetuation. Table of Contents: Introduction / Multiple Functions of the Endothelial Cells / Calcium Signaling in Vascular Cells and Cell-to-Cell Communications / Endothelium-Dependent Regulation of Vascular Tone / Conclusion / References