Journal
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
Volume 54, Issue 3-6, Pages 75-79Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2011.03.007
Keywords
Diabetes; Hyperglycemia; Glucotoxicity; Insulin resistance; Vascular damage; Endothelial progenitor cells; Atherosclerosis
Categories
Funding
- Italian Ministry of Research and Scientific Research
- Istituto Italiano Ricerche Cardiovascolari
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Although the mechanisms by which insulin-resistance and hyperglycemia lead to cardiovascular disease are still incompletely understood, all mechanisms apparently converge on the vessel wall and the endothelium as a common disease target. Endothelial cells play a crucial role in vascular homeostasis, providing a functional barrier and modulating several signals involved in vasomotion, as well as antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-oxidant properties of the vessel wall. Endothelial cell dysfunction occurs early in diabetes and insulin resistance states. Since atherosclerosis may result from an imbalance between the magnitude of vascular injury and the capacity of repair, a role has been recently postulated for a defective mobilization of vascular progenitors, including endothelial progenitor cells, in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. Here we summarize the evidence for such an occurrence. We also here highlight how new insights into pathways of vascular damage in diabetes may indicate new targets for preventive and treatment strategies. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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