Document Type

Article

Publication Title

American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology

Abstract

Capillary endothelial cells possess a specialized metabolism necessary to adapt to the unique alveolar-capillary environment. Here, we highlight how endothelial metabolism preserves the integrity of the pulmonary circulation by controlling vascular permeability, defending against oxidative stress, facilitating rapid migration and angiogenesis in response to injury, and regulating the epigenetic landscape of endothelial cells. Recent reports on single-cell RNA-sequencing reveal subpopulations of pulmonary capillary endothelial cells with distinctive reparative capacities, which potentially offer new insight into their metabolic signature. Lastly, we discuss broad implications of pulmonary vascular metabolism on acute respiratory distress syndrome, touching on emerging findings of endotheliitis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lungs.

First Page

L358

Last Page

L376

DOI

10.1152/ajplung.00131.2021

Publication Date

Summer 8-2021

Department

College of Medicine

Comments

Copyright © 2021 the American Physiological Society.

Please visit the publisher's website for any inquiries about this work or for downloadable files for tables and figures using the following link: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00131.2021

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