Extracellular Atp and Adenosine As Regulators of Endothelial Cell Function - 9789048134342

Extracelluar purines and pyrimidines (ATP, ADP, UTP and adenosine) are released into the xtracellualar milieu in response to a varitey of stress conditions and act as important regulators of vascular homeostasis. This new book is uniquely focused on the signaling actions of extracelluar purines in endothelial cells and the crucial role of extracellular purines in regulation of angiogenesis, vascular tone, cell permeability, wound healing, inflammation and cell-to-cell communication. Thisbook examines the responses of endothelial cells, originating from various tissues (such as cornea, pancreas and uterus), to extracellualr nucletides and adenosine under physiological and pathological conditions, i.e. pregnacy, hypoxia hypertension, inflammation and diabets. In the books 12 Chapters, the role of purinergic signaling in endothelium-dependent tissue perfusion, regulation of endothelial barrier function, and angiogenesis are discussed. The mechanisms of ATP release and its role in intereclluar communication are also presented. In addition, the book provides the most up to date mechanisms of extracellualar nucletide metabolism by purine-converting ecto-enzymes and their contribution to purinergic signaling in endothelial cells originating from various vascular beds. This book is a valuable resource for biomedical research scientists, clinical scientistists, clinical scientists, graduate students and health science professionals interested in the mechanisms of extracellular purine function in ondothelial cells under physiologic and pathologic contitions.