Endothelial inflammation and thrombotic risk: From the leg to the pelvis and back

Abstract

Pathological shear and stretch stress acting on the endothelium lining following venous reflux has been associated with an increased risk not only of thrombosis, but also of pan-endothelial inflammation. Indeed, varicose veins patients demonstrate an increased risk not only of deep venous thrombosis, but also of pulmonary embolism and peripheral arterial disease. Ex-vivo studies, including the ones on vascular endothelial cells, highlight the correlation between the physical forces and the biochemical related messaging triggering these clinical scenarios. Herein we report insights on the biosignaling following this mechano-transduction involving surface and cytoskeleton structures such as the glycocalyx, involved in endothelial permeability, protection, as well as in vessel tone and coagulation balance in a parallelism between lower limb and pelvic venous district venous thrombo-inflammation.