part of part of cardiac blood vessel endothelial cell endothelial cell of artery endothelial cell of coronary artery 2014-06-04T17:08:47Z Any endothelial cell of artery that is part of a coronary artery. https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_2000018 CL:2000018 Endothelial cells of the coronary artery are specialized cells that line the inner surface of the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to the myocardium (heart muscle). These cells play key roles in vascular biology including the regulation of vascular tone, blood coagulation, leukocyte adhesion, and platelet adhesion. They are also responsible for maintaining the integrity of the vascular wall. To maintain cardiovascular homeostasis, the endothelial cells of the coronary artery produce substances such as endothelin, a powerful vasoconstrictor, and prostacyclin, which has vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-thrombotic properties. They also produce nitric oxide, which has a protective role in the vasculature, preventing inflammation, thrombosis, and platelet aggregation, which are major risk factors for atherosclerosis, leading to coronary heart disease. Dysfunction or impairment of endothelial cell function in coronary arteries is often considered an early prognostic marker in the development of atherosclerosis. With decreased nitric oxide production or availability, the arterial wall becomes more prone to inflammation, thrombosis, and constriction, all of which lead to plaque formation and eventual blockage of the artery. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) coronary artery