Vascular Endothelium: Physiological Basis of Clinical Problems(208 NATO Science Series A:)

This monograph contains the proceedings from the Advanced Study Institute on "Vascular Endothelium: Physiological Basis of Clinical Problems" which took place in Corfu, Greece in June 1990. The meeting consisted of twenty-eight lectures, most of them adapted as full length papers in this volume, as well as numerous short oral and poster communications which are abstracted and also included in alphabetical order (pages 239-302). There were ninety-six participants from ten NATO and four other European countries. The meeting was the second in as many years dealing with a specific subject in Endothelial Cell biology. Following the 1988 discussion on "Receptors and Transduction Mechanisms", the present ASI recognized and tried to deal with the increasing overlap in interest between basic scientists studying endothelial cell functions and clinicians facing problems of known or suspected endothelial pathological involvement. As with any similar effort, we opted to be selective, rather than fail by trying to be inclusive, in the subjects covered. We chose to discuss diseases, such as atherosclerosis, sepsis, ARDS and stroke, based on their relevance to endothelial cell function and urgent need for new insights into their pathogenesis and treatment. Similarly, we examined endothelial cell functions by considering their relevance to disease and their potential for elucidating important pathologies. Obviously, some areas were covered superficially or not at all; this should not distract from their importance, but rather reflect on the constraints of time and -not at all negligibly -the bias of the organizing committee.

Table of Contents:
I. Clinical Topics.- The Clinical Profile of Sepsis and the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome.- The Participation of the Complement System in Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease.- The Spectrum of Atherosclerosis in the Human.- Cerebral Endothelial Injury in Stroke, Brain Trauma and Hypertension.- II. General Concepts in Endothelial Cell Pathophysiology.- Free-Radical Mediated Actions on Endothelial Cells of the Intact Lung.- Regulation of Vascular Function by Vascular Permeability Factor.- III. Chemical Mediators of Endothelial Cell Injury.- Endothelial Cells as Targets for and Producers of Cytokines.- Roles of Vascular Cells in Inflammation and Immunopathology.- The Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology of Type 1 Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor.- IV. Endothelial Cell Interaction with Blood Components.- Purine Regulation of Endothelial Cells: Relevance to Pathophysiology.- Autoantibodies to Endothelial Cells.- Leukocyte-Endothelial Cell Interactions.- V. Vascular Responses to Endothelial Cell Injury.- Endothelial Function in Human Coronary Bypass Grafts.- Altered Renovascular Endothelial Functions During Nephrotoxicity.- Cerebral Endothelial Function: Physiology and Pathophysiology.- Mechanisms of Altered Reactivity in the Cerebral Microcirculation.- VI. Mechanisms of Endothelial Cell Dysfunction.- The Role of Apolipoprotein E and Apolipoprotein B in Atherosclerosis.- Endothelial Cell-Matrix Interactions in Health and Disease.- Biosynthesis and Assembly of von Willebrand Factor by Vascular Endothelial Cells: Relevance to Pathophysiology.- VII. Markers of Endothelial Cell Injury and Repair.- Monitoring of Endothelial Plasmalemmal Ectoenzyme Function as an Index of Endothelial Injury and Repair.- Pathophysiological Significance of Endothelial Cell Integrins.- VIII. Epilogue.- Vascular Endothelium: Physiological Basis of Clinical Problems.- IX. Abstracts of Oral and Poster Presentations.- X. List of Participants.- XI. Index.