Endothelial Cells: Endothelial cells line the lumen of all blood vessels and produce potent vasodilatory factors such as nitric oxide, prostacyclin, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor that influence smooth muscle cell contractility and arterial tone. Elevated levels of intracellular Ca2+ in endothelial cells increase the production of these vasodilatory factors. We are investigating how TRP channels present in endothelial cells regulate Ca2+ influx and the production of these factors in response to specific chemical agonists.
