Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease: Vascular Responses, Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications

The vascular endothelium, serving as a dynamic and selective barrier, plays a pivotal role in the regulation of vascular tone, extravasation of blood components, and coagulation processes. Endothelial cells are able to fulfill these varied tasks and maintain tissue perfusion throughout the body due to their heterogeneity, morphological and phenotypic differences across organs and vascular beds. Conversely, endothelial dysfunction is a common denominator in many pathological conditions. Triggered by a proinflammatory host response, circulating mediators activate endothelial cells resulting in shedding of the glycocalyx, endothelial hyperpermeability and edema leading to changes in microcirculatory/organ perfusion. Pathological processes such as oxidative stress, macrophage accumulation and production of cytokines and chemokines due to both innate and adaptative immune responses promote endothelial dysfunction and the progression of numerous disease states.

Debate continues as to whether inflammation processes act as a major player associated with risk factors that are central to cardiovascular disease or represent an epiphenomenon in the related pathologies of hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemia-reperfusion and stroke. Although several anti-inflammatory drugs have shown a potential benefit in reducing cardiovascular risk, knowledge regarding the relationships between inflammation, the endothelium and cardiovascular disease is underdeveloped.

Here, we invite researchers to submit review articles to update our current knowledge about the endothelium in health and disease, emerging techniques, inflammatory pathways and new therapeutic opportunities. We also welcome original research papers including the latest clinical research findings and/or in vitro and/or in vivo studies using animal models of cardiovascular disease. The areas of interest include, but are not limited to the following:

• Endothelial function and dysfunction, endothelial injury.

• Disturbances of the endothelial glycocalyx.

• Alterations in coagulation and platelet function.

• The effect of inflammation/endothelial dysfunction on pathologies including cardiovascular disease, dementia, sepsis and diabetes.

• New therapeutic approaches targeting inflammatory pathways or the vascular endothelium.