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Semin Thromb Hemost 2010; 36(3): 276-285
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1253450
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Proximate and Evolutionary Causation of Endothelial Heterogeneity

William C. Aird1 , 2
  • 1Division of Molecular and Vascular Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Publication History

Publication Date:
20 May 2010 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Endothelial phenotypes display remarkable heterogeneity in structure and function, in time and space, and in health and disease. As a biological trait, phenotypic heterogeneity has evolutionary and proximate explanations. Here we introduce concepts of evolutionary biology, evolutionary developmental biology, developmental plasticity, and homeostasis toward understanding mechanisms of endothelial heterogeneity. We conclude that endothelial heterogeneity arises from a complex interplay between the genome and the environment, operating at both population and organismal levels across a broad spectrum of time. Mismatch between the genome and/or epigenome and the environment is an important determinant of human vascular disease.

KEYWORDS

Endothelial cells - heterogeneity - evolutionary biology - epigenomics

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William C AirdM.D. 

Director, Center for Vascular Biology Research. Chief, Division of Molecular and Vascular Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

Email: waird@bidmc.harvard.edu

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