No abstract

No abstract

In vascular research, clinical samples and samples from animal models are often used together to foster translation of preclinical findings to humans. General concepts of endothelia and murine‐specific endothelial phenotypes were discussed in part 1 of this two part series. Here, in part 2, we present a comprehensive overview of human‐specific endothelial phenotypes. Pan‐endothelial cell markers, organ specific endothelial antigens, and flow cytometric immunophenotyping of blood‐borne endothelial cells are reviewed.

The endothelium forms a selective barrier between circulating blood or lymph and surrounding tissue. Endothelial cells play an essential role in vessel homeostasis, and identification of these cells is critical in vascular biology research. However, characteristics of endothelial cells differ depending on the location and type of blood or lymph vessel. Endothelial cell subsets are numerous and often identified using different flow cytometric markers, making immunophenotyping these cells complex. In part 1 of this two part review series, we present a comprehensive overview of markers for the flow cytometric identification and phenotyping of murine endothelial subsets. These subsets can be distinguished using a panel of cell surface and intracellular markers shared by all endothelial cells in combination with additional markers of specialized endothelial cell types. This review can be used to determine the best markers for identifying and phenotyping desired murine endothelial cell subsets.