Organotypic vasculature: From descriptive heterogeneity to functional pathophysiology

Dynamic vascular surfaces Blood vessels have long been considered as passive conduits for blood and circulating cells that, at best, respond to exogenous cytokines. However, recent work has shown that blood vessels serve as a highly dynamic interface between the circulation and tissues. Augustin et al. review molecular mechanisms of vascular development and function in different organs. Differentiated endothelial cells develop as a sort of cobblestone monolayer to form one of the largest surfaces within the body. Vascular control of the tissue microenvironment is vital, not only for normal tissue development and homeostasis, but also for disease states ranging from inflammation to cancer. Science , this issue p. eaal2379