Recent advances of endothelial metabolism in vascular diseases

Endothelial cell (EC) plays an important role in health and disease. Compared with other cell types, EC is highly dependent on glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation and amino acid metabolism, in order to efficiently transport oxygen and nutrients from blood to surrounding tissues and form new vessels in hypoxia avascular areas. With the in-depth study, metabolic pathways have been reported to be involved in regulating EC proliferation, migration and angiogenesis. Abnormal regulation of EC metabolism leads to the loss or enhancement of EC proliferation, migration and angiogenesis, and finally results in vascular diseases including atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and limb ischemia. Thus metabolic pathways may be regarded as potential therapeutic targets. This article reviews the research progress of metabolism regulation in EC in vascular diseases, in order to provide novel ideas for the prevention and treatment of vascular diseases in the future.