Novel Insights into Endothelial Cells in Vascular Disease

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 309

Special Issue Editor

Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA
Interests: structure biology; adipose tissue fibrosis; vascular cacification

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Endothelial cells (ECs) are now recognized as active regulators of vascular integrity, remodeling, and pathology. Beyond serving as a passive barrier, ECs integrate hemodynamic, metabolic, and inflammatory cues to coordinate vessel growth, stabilization, and repair.

This Special Issue highlights emerging insights into EC biology across a spectrum of vascular diseases, including but not limited to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), vascular calcification, atherosclerosis, and fibrosis. In these conditions, EC dysfunction promotes the initiation and progression of disease through abnormal signaling, lineage plasticity, or maladaptive crosstalk with neighboring cells.

We will explore novel pathways and the mechanisms that underlie endothelial dysfunction. In addition, we will discuss new therapeutic strategies, including targeted molecular interventions and drug development aimed at restoring vascular disease.

By integrating advances in genetics, signaling, biomechanics, and translational models, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how endothelial cells shape vascular disease and opportunities for innovative treatments.

Dr. Li Zhang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • endothelial cells
  • vascular diseases
  • vascular signaling

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 5294 KB  
Article
Experimental Approach to Moyamoya Angiopathy: Insights into Vascular Cell Crosstalk
by Gemma Gorla, Antonella Potenza, Tatiana Carrozzini, Giuliana Pollaci, Elisabetta Pasella, Erika Salvi, Isabella Canavero, Nicola Rifino, Paolo Ferroli, Marco Paolo Schiariti, Francesco Restelli, Francesco Acerbi, Anna Bersano and Laura Gatti
Cells 2026, 15(10), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells15100862 (registering DOI) - 9 May 2026
Abstract
Background: The pathophysiological mechanisms of Moyamoya angiopathy (MA) are still largely unknown, although a dysfunctional vasculogenesis has been hypothesized to contribute to it. The association between this rare cerebrovascular condition and variants of Ring Finger Protein 213 (RNF213) strengthens the role of genetic [...] Read more.
Background: The pathophysiological mechanisms of Moyamoya angiopathy (MA) are still largely unknown, although a dysfunctional vasculogenesis has been hypothesized to contribute to it. The association between this rare cerebrovascular condition and variants of Ring Finger Protein 213 (RNF213) strengthens the role of genetic factors in MA pathogenesis. Methods: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of MA, we carried out RNA interference (RNAi) targeting RNF213 in human endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The combined effect of RNAi and/or hypoxia on expression of key angiogenic factors was analyzed through qRT-PCR and Western blot. Functional assays were performed to characterize the impact of RNAi on vasculogenesis. Gene-expression arrays were performed on vessel walls of MA patients and controls. Results: RNF213-RNAi impaired angiogenic capability in ECs, whereas the simultaneous silencing of RNF213 and its phosphatase PTP1B restored angiogenesis function in ECs but worsened it in VSMCs. Angiogenic factor expression appeared to be modulated in ECs by the combined effects of RNAi and/or hypoxia, and in pathological vessels of MA patients as compared with controls. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to associating the relevance of RNF213 in MA cellular models and highlight the importance of EC-VSMC crosstalk for vascular integrity. Additionally, the study could lay the foundations for improving experimental models of MA pathophysiology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights into Endothelial Cells in Vascular Disease)
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