Human endothelial progenitor cells, endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and ACE inhibitors

During the last decades, the role of the vascular endothelium has been well documented and investigated and all the studies that were made lead to the conclusion that this vascular endothelium isn't just a monolayer and a simple barrier, but a complex organ with various functions. This monolayer provides a first line physiological defense against atherosclerosis and it is considered to play an important role in inflammation and angiogenesis. The mature endothelial cells are involved in the repairement of the monolayer injury, thus having a limited capacity of recovery, thing that has lead to the investigation of the circulating endothelial progenitor cells and their role in this vascular healing. Recent studies showed that these cells have a huge role in the fast endothelization of the areas touched by the vascular damage and that several cardiovascular risk factors, but also several cardiovascular diseases decrease the number and function of these helpful and important cells. The treatment with ACE inhibitors seems to normalize and reverse not only the high blood pressure but also the number of the endothelial progenitor cells, and by this also the endothelial dysfunction. In this review, we summarize the most important aspects about endothelial progenitor cells, endothelial dysfunction, hypertension , ACE inhibitors and also what they have in common.