Endothelial Reactive Oxygen Species: Key Players in Cardiovascular Health and Disease

Endothelial cells (ECs) line the entire vasculature system and serve as both barriers and facilitators of intra- and inter-organ communication. Positioned to rapidly sense internal and external stressors, ECs dynamically adjust their functionality. Endothelial dysfunction occurs when the ability of ECs to react to stressors is impaired, which precedes many cardiovascular diseases. While EC reactive oxygen species (ROS) have historically been implicated as mediators of endothelial dysfunction, more recent studies highlight the central role of ROS in physiological endothelial signaling.