part of endothelial cell cardiocyte cardiac endothelial cell Any endothelial cell that is part of some heart. https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0010008 Cardiac endothelial cells are a specialized subset of endothelial cells, the cell type responsible for forming the inner lining of cardiovascular structures such as the heart, and blood vessels. They are a pivotal component of the heart's microenvironment and play a key role in regulating blood pressure, maintaining cardiac homeostasis, in addition to cooperating with other cardiac cells like cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts in the orchestration of a coordinated heart function. Cardiac endothelial cells contribute to the each stage of the heart's operation, whether during relaxation or contraction. Cardiac endothelial cells release nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator that regulates blood vessel dilation consequently controlling blood pressure and flow. They also produce a myriad of growth factors that aid in new blood vessel formation, known as angiogenesis, crucially needed for tissue repair and regeneration when the heart undergoes damage, as in cases of myocardial infarction. Furthermore, cardiac endothelial cells control the passage of nutrients, hormones, and gases between the bloodstream and the heart tissue, ensuring its complex metabolic demands are met adequately. They serve as a selective barrier, regulating the transit of cells and signaling molecules, thereby playing a pivotal role in inflammatory responses and immune cell trafficking. They also contribute to the maintenance of blood fluidity and clotting balance through a complex interplay of anti-thrombic and pro-thrombic factors. (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.) Homo sapiens heart