Schor A M, Ellis I, Schor S L
Oral Diseases Group,Cell and Molecular Biology Unit, The Dental School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Methods Mol Med. 2001;46:145-62. doi: 10.1385/1-59259-143-4:145.
The inner lining of blood vessels, the endothelium, consists of a monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs), that present a free luminal surface and attach on their abluminal side to the underlying basement membrane (apart from a minimal amount of cell-cell overlap). A great deal of heterogeneity exists in the morphology of the endothelium and in the phenotype displayed by individual ECs. In spite of this, all ECs may be defined by two general criteria: anatomical location (i.e., luminal wall of blood vessels) and functionality (e.g., provision of a nonthrombogenic surface). In a mature resting vessel, the functionality and integrity of the endothelium is maintained under steady state conditions by the biosynthetic activity of the ECs, in conjunction with low levels of cell proliferation and motility. Significant changes in the motility of the endothelial cells, often accompanied by cell proliferation, occur during angiogenesis and in response to vessel injury.
血管的内膜，即内皮，由单层内皮细胞（ECs）组成，这些细胞呈现出一个游离的管腔表面，并在其无管腔侧附着于下方的基底膜（除了极少量的细胞间重叠）。内皮的形态以及单个ECs所表现出的表型存在很大的异质性。尽管如此，所有的ECs都可以通过两个一般标准来定义：解剖位置（即血管的管腔壁）和功能（例如，提供一个抗血栓形成的表面）。在成熟的静息血管中，内皮的功能和完整性在稳态条件下通过ECs的生物合成活性以及低水平的细胞增殖和运动来维持。在内皮细胞的运动中会发生显著变化，通常伴随着细胞增殖，这在血管生成过程中以及对血管损伤的反应中都会出现。
