Guidelines for evaluating endothelial function in vascular tissue. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2026 May 01;330(5):H1600-H1672
Date
03/09/2026Pubmed ID
41801061Pubmed Central ID
PMC13085230DOI
10.1152/ajpheart.00656.2025Abstract
The endothelium plays a central role in maintaining vascular homeostasis by orchestrating vascular tone, inflammation, healing, permeability, and thrombosis. Assessing endothelial function in vascular tissue is essential for understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular physiology and pathology. Traditional approaches, such as wire and pressure myography, have been instrumental in defining endothelium-dependent responses and identifying key pharmacological targets. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of endothelial cells across vascular beds and their dynamic phenotypic changes in health and disease necessitate the incorporation of new investigative strategies. Emerging methodologies, including bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and advanced imaging, now provide unprecedented insights into endothelial cell diversity and function. A team of leading experts in the field, who collectively reached a consensus on the most widely used techniques to evaluate endothelial function, developed these guidelines. The document establishes best practices for assessing endothelial function, from endothelial cell cultures to isolated vascular tissues, integrating conventional functional assays with modern molecular approaches. By fostering methodological consistency and embracing innovation, our goal is to enhance rigor, reproducibility, understanding, and discovery in endothelial biology.
Author List
McCarthy CG, Aalkjær C, Bagher P, Beyer AM, Boedtkjer E, Bomfim GF, Breslin JW, Briones AM, Castorena-Gonzalez JA, Costa TJ, Dai Z, Davel AP, Earley S, Freed JK, Garland C, Isakson BE, Jepps TA, Kalucka J, Lavanderos B, Makino A, Norton CE, Segal SS, Tan W, Trask AJ, Wilson C, Zawieja SD, Wenceslau CFAuthor
Andreas M. Beyer PhD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsEndothelial Cells
Endothelium, Vascular
Humans
Proteomics
Vasodilation
