Noted experts survey and evaluate the latest research in the growing field of endothelial cell involvement in the initiation and development of various diseases. Research-oriented chapters span a diversity of topics, including endothelial cell response to various injuries and its crucial role in inflammation, immunity, viral infection, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, neoplasia, and metastasis.

Noted experts survey and evaluate the latest research in the growing field of endothelial cell involvement in the initiation and development of various diseases. Research-oriented chapters span a diversity of topics, including endothelial cell response to various injuries and its crucial role in inflammation, immunity, viral infection, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, neoplasia, and metastasis.

Although blood capillaries were first observed through a flea-lens microscope by Malpighi in 1661,200 more years elapsed before the cellular nature of the vessel wall was conclusively demonstrated. Beginning with the middle of the 19th cen tury, our knowledge of the histological organization of blood vessels has steadily increased. However, the endothelium, which for a long time was considered to be just an inert barrier lining, had been barely explored until three decades ago. Since then, there has been an upsurge of interest in the fine structure and function of endothelial cells. Intense...