Endothelial immunogenicity – A matter of matrix microarchitecture

• DOI: 10.1160/th07-01-0043
• Publication Date: 2007-07-16T09:37:04Z
• Authors: Shmuel Hess; Elazer Edelman; Heiko Methe
• Keywords: Inflammation; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Immunity; Endothelial Cells; Humans; Cell Communication; Endothelium, Vascular; Vascular Diseases; Extracellular Matrix

The endothelium is a highly specialized active interface between blood and the underlying tissues, maintaining vascular tone, thrombo-resistance selective permeability to cells proteins. It also an important regulator of inflammatory diseases, endothelial-leukocyte interactions often herald complex diseases with component. Yet, exact mechanisms promoting immune activation endothelial (EC) are incompletely understood. Knowledge accumulating that immediate environment defines cellular phenotype, whereby matrix composition spatial formation (three- versus two-dimensional) seem act as pivotal mediators. Here we summarize current findings denoting key role in regulating immunogenicity. response three-dimensional matrix-embedded EC stands stark contrast engendered by injection these same their free state. Matrix-embedding confers quiescent state reduced expression levels chemokines, adhesion, costimulatory, major histocompatibility II molecules. Compared grown on two-dimensional tissue culture plates, cytokine-stimulation results significantly adhesion natural killer proliferation co-cultivated allogeneic T cells. On contrary, induce immune-inhibitory phenotype dendritic regulatory greater extent than non-embedded EC. As associated profound changes basement membrane overall architecture, our indicate might play initiating different diseases. Cell-matrix interconnections appear govern immunogenicity