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Weibel–Palade bodies—sentinels of acute stress

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 5, pages 423–426 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Weibel–Palade bodies are uniquely present in endothelial cells and harbor a range of bioactive substances that participate in hemostasis, vasomotion, inflammation and fibrinolysis, in addition to modulating vascular permeability, angiogenic sprouting, and stem cell mobilization. This Perspectives article examines the latest insights into the biogenesis of these organelles and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of their exocytosis. In addition, we advance two hypotheses on the pathogenic role of these organelles: first, in the development of endothelial dysfunction associated with the reduction of nitric oxide bioavailability and accumulation of peroxynitrite and second, as a first-line response to acute stress that determines the balance between regenerative and proinflammatory signals.

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Figure 1: Electron micrographs showing Weibel–Palade bodies.
Figure 2: Signal transduction pathways that regulate the exocytosis of Weibel–Palade bodies.
Figure 3: Hypothetical role of Weibel–Palade bodies as stress-responsive sentinels and mediators of inflammation.

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Acknowledgements

Studies in the authors' laboratory were supported in part by NIH grants DK54602, DK052783 and DK45462 and by Westchester Artificial Kidney Foundation (M. S. Goligorsky) and a Fellowship grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (PA 1530/3-1; D. Patschan).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Renal Research Institute, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA

    Michael S. Goligorsky

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Göttingen University Medical School, Germany

    Daniel Patschan

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Mei-Chuan Kuo

Authors
  1. Michael S. Goligorsky
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  2. Daniel Patschan
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  3. Mei-Chuan Kuo
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Correspondence to Michael S. Goligorsky.

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Goligorsky, M., Patschan, D. & Kuo, MC. Weibel–Palade bodies—sentinels of acute stress. Nat Rev Nephrol 5, 423–426 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2009.87

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