Crossing Signals: Bioactive Lipids in the Microvasculature.

Crossing Signals: Bioactive Lipids in the Microvasculature. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Apr 03;: Authors: Chabowski DS, Cohen KE, Abu-Hatoum O, Gutterman DD, Freed JK Abstract The primary function of the arterial microvasculature is to ensure that regional perfusion of blood flow is matched to the needs of the tissue bed. This critical physiological mechanism is tightly controlled and regulated by a variety of vasoactive compounds that are generated and released from the vascular endothelium. While these substances are required for modulating vascular tone, they also influence the surrounding tissue and have an overall effect on vascular as well as parenchymal homeostasis. Bioactive lipids, fatty acid derivatives that exert their effects through signaling pathways, are included in the list of vasoactive compounds that modulate the microvasculature. Although lipids were identified as important vascular messengers over three decades ago, their specific role within the microvascular system is not well defined. Thorough understanding of these pathways and their regulation is not only essential to gain insight of their role in cardiovascular disease but is also important for preventing vascular dysfunction following cancer treatment, a rapidly growing problem in medical oncology. The purpose of this review is to discuss how biologically-active lipids contribute to vascular function and signaling within the endothelium. Methods f...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Source Type: research