The permeability of exchange microvessels is regulated through complex interactions
between signaling molecules and structural proteins in the endothelium. Endothelial barrier
integrity is maintained by adhesive interactions occurring at the cell–cell and cell–matrix
contacts via junctional proteins and focal adhesion complexes that are anchored to the
cytoskeleton. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) and cAMP-dependent kinase counteract with the nitric
oxide (NO)–cyclic GMP (cGMP) pathway to protect the basal barrier function. Upon …