Editorial: Exploring endothelial injury syndromes: mechanisms, markers, and therapeutic potential

Abstract

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The field of endothelial injury syndromes has undergone a significant transformation in recent decades. Initially perceived as a simple anatomical structure, the endothelium is now recognized as a dynamic organ with multifaceted roles in maintaining physiological homeostasis. It is actively involved in regulating coagulation, vascular tone, permeability, and inflammatory responses. When the endothelium is activated, it can lose its integrity, leading to phenotypic changes that trigger procoagulant, pro-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic mediators (1, 2). This dysfunction is central to a range of hematological conditions and other diseases, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, inflammatory, and tumoral disorders characterized by vascular injury (3–7). Despite the growing attention to endothelial injury syndromes, many questions remain unanswered. There is a need for further research to understand the mechanisms by which endothelial injury contributes to these disorders, develop robust markers for assessing the severity and progression of these syndromes, and explore the endothelium as a potential therapeutic target. Endothelial dysfunction may further serve as a valuable biomarker to guide personalized therapy by identifying patients who are more likely to benefit from targeted interventions.

This Research Topic aimed to explore the multifaceted roles of endothelial injury syndromes in hematology and beyond. Elucidating the mechanisms underlying endothelial injury in various vascular-related disorders will promote the identification and development of endothelial markers for assessing the severity and progression of these syndromes, and ultimately, facilitate the utilization of the endothelium as a therapeutic target. By addressing these objectives, research collected in this Research Topic seeks to advance our understanding of endothelial dysfunction and its implications across different medical specialties. All submitted articles underwent a rigorous peer-review process. Ultimately, ten articles were published.

This interdisciplinary approach encourages collaboration among basic, translational, and clinical researchers from various specialties, including hematology, cardiology, inflammatory and infectious diseases, nephrology, oncology, and transplantation, to facilitate the exchange of new concepts and update state-of-the-art knowledge regarding mechanisms, markers, and therapeutic potential of endothelial injury syndromes.