抄録
The endothelial cell-specific granule Weibel-Palade body releases vasoactive substances capable of modulating vascular inflammation, thrombosis and atherogenesis. Pathogen recognition by endothelial Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is thought to play a crucial role in promotion of vascular inflammatory responses. However, the molecular basis for the early-phase responses of endothelial cells to pathogens has not been fully elucidated. We found that human aortic endothelial cells respond to several TLR ligands, including bacterial lipoteichoic acids and lipopeptides, but not lipopolysaccharides, to induce Weibel-Palade body exocytosis, accompanied by release of the storage component von Willebrand factor. In this mini-review, we briefly describe a novel function of endothelial TLRs and discuss its implications in aortic inflammation or atherogenesis.
