The endothelium is an inner lining of blood vessels that separates blood flow from the deeper layers of the vascular wall. This is a continuous single layer of epithelial cells that forms tissue weighing around 1.5-2.0 kg in a person. The endothelium continuously produces an enormous amount of the vital biologically active substances thus being a giant paracrine organ distributed throughout the human body.
Endothelium functions
Vascular endothelium exercises many different functions, including the crucial barrier function. It is the first and the last frontier where the fate of our vessels is decided. It is what kicks out everything that doesn't belong there, in the vascular wall. And if it breaks, unwanted guests intrude the wall—triggering some mess that eventually turns into a heart attack.
In the context of this text, it's important to us that all the vascular disease risk factors—smoking, high cholesterol, inert lifestyle—damage the endothelium. And while it keeps resisting, you can enjoy your strong genes; but if it fails, you have to change your lifestyle as soon as possible.
Also, the key function of the endothelium is regulation of the vascular tone, leukocyte adhesion processes, and the balance of profibrinolytic and prothrombogenic activity. The decisive role is played by nitric oxide (NO) produced in the endothelium. Nitrogen monoxide plays a critical role in maintaining coronary blood flow—particularly, it dilates or narrows the lumen of blood vessels according to the body's needs.
Increased blood flow during, for example, physical activity, leads to mechanical irritation of the endothelium due to the forces of flowing blood, This mechanical irritation stimulates NO production. And if the endothelium can product NO, this means it's healthy and operates correctly.
Endothelial dysfunction
Damaged endothelium causes, balance is disrupted in which vasoconstriction is caused. This imbalance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction characterizes a condition called endothelial dysfunction.
The phenomenon of vascular constriction is called stenosis. Stenosis is caused by "plaques" appearing on the vessel walls. Such a plaque is a clot a pathological formation in the lumen of a blood vessel or in the heart cavity. Alongside the threat of endothelial dysfunction, if these plaques fall from the walls and join the stream, they may cause such frightful atherosclerosis repercussions as heart attack, stroke, etc.
Endothelial dysfunction-related disorders:
- atherosclerosis
- hypertension
- coronary artery disease
- myocardial infarction
- diabetes and insulin resistance
- renal failure
- hereditary and acquired metabolic disorders (dyslipidemia, etc.)
- thrombosis and thrombophlebitis
- endocrine age-related disorders
- non-respiratory pulmonary pathologies (asthma)
In terms of endothelial functions, AngioCode technology is based on registering pulse wave parameter changes occurring after the brachial artery occlusion test, i.e. during pulse diagnosis. During 1 minute after a 5-minute arterial clamping, we put the endothelium to work and assess how it exercises its vasodilation function.