Soluble endoglin, hypercholesterolemia and endothelial dysfunction

Atherosclerosis. 2015 Dec;243(2):383-8. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.10.003. Epub 2015 Oct 8.

Abstract

A soluble form of endoglin (sEng) is known to be an extracellular domain of the full-length membrane endoglin, which is elevated during various pathological conditions related to vascular endothelium. In the current review, we tried to summarize a possible role of soluble endoglin in cardiovascular pathologies, focusing on its relation to endothelial dysfunction and cholesterol levels. We discussed sEng as a proposed biomarker of cardiovascular disease progression, cardiovascular disease treatment and endothelial dysfunction. We also addressed a potential interaction of sEng with TGF-β/eNOS or BMP-9 signaling. We suggest soluble endoglin levels to be monitored, because they reflect the progression/treatment efficacy of cardiovascular diseases related to endothelial dysfunction and hypercholesterolemia. A possible role of soluble endoglin as an inducer of endothelial dysfunction however remains to be elucidated.

Keywords: Endothelial dysfunction; Hypercholesterolemia; Soluble endoglin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / blood*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / therapy
  • Endoglin
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Growth Differentiation Factor 2
  • Growth Differentiation Factors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / blood*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / complications
  • Hypercholesterolemia / physiopathology
  • Hypercholesterolemia / therapy
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / blood*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Biomarkers
  • ENG protein, human
  • Endoglin
  • GDF2 protein, human
  • Growth Differentiation Factor 2
  • Growth Differentiation Factors
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • NOS3 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III