TY - JOUR T1 - Regulation of Cellular Communication by Signaling Microdomains in the Blood Vessel Wall JF - Pharmacological Reviews JO - Pharmacol Rev SP - 513 LP - 569 DO - 10.1124/pr.112.007351 VL - 66 IS - 2 AU - Marie Billaud AU - Alexander W. Lohman AU - Scott R. Johnstone AU - Lauren A. Biwer AU - Stephanie Mutchler AU - Brant E. Isakson A2 - Garland, Christopher J. Y1 - 2014/04/01 UR - http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/66/2/513.abstract N2 - It has become increasingly clear that the accumulation of proteins in specific regions of the plasma membrane can facilitate cellular communication. These regions, termed signaling microdomains, are found throughout the blood vessel wall where cellular communication, both within and between cell types, must be tightly regulated to maintain proper vascular function. We will define a cellular signaling microdomain and apply this definition to the plethora of means by which cellular communication has been hypothesized to occur in the blood vessel wall. To that end, we make a case for three broad areas of cellular communication where signaling microdomains could play an important role: 1) paracrine release of free radicals and gaseous molecules such as nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species; 2) role of ion channels including gap junctions and potassium channels, especially those associated with the endothelium-derived hyperpolarization mediated signaling, and lastly, 3) mechanism of exocytosis that has considerable oversight by signaling microdomains, especially those associated with the release of von Willebrand factor. When summed, we believe that it is clear that the organization and regulation of signaling microdomains is an essential component to vessel wall function. ER -