The mechanism of heat-induced damage of endothelial cells and its effect on vital organs

As an important organ of the human body, vascular endothelial cells (VECs) play a vital role in heat stress-induced tissue damage. Its integrity not only serves as a barrier for maintaining vascular permeability but also has major impact on cellular structure and function during acute phase response to heat stress. In heat stroke, a series of acute and complicated pathophysiological changes, including microcirculation change, damage VECs and thereby induce or aggravate multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Meanwhile, studies have shown that, during heat stroke, VECs are the major responding cells and one of the most common cells that experience morphological and functional changes. Therefore, VECs damage might be an important mechanism involved in heat stroke. This article reviews the mechanism of heat-induced damage of VECs and its effect on vital organs. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2017.04.01