Endothelial cells - the cell type which lines the interior surface of blood vessels - play critical roles in vascular function. Researchers employ various markers to identify and study these cells, aiding in understanding vascular physiology and disease processes. These markers offer insights into endothelial cell structure, function, and behaviour. Several key endothelial cell markers used in cardiovascular research include CD31 (PECAM-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF), VE-cadherin, and eNOS. CD31, also known as Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (PECAM-1), is a widely utilized endothelial cell marker. CD31 is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and is involved in cell adhesion, leukocyte transmigration, and angiogenesis. CD31 is a reliable marker for identifying endothelial cells and is often used in immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry studies to confirm the presence of endothelial cells. Von Willebrand factor (vWF) is another commonly used marker for endothelial cells. VWF is a large multimeric glycoprotein that plays a critical role in blood clotting by mediating platelet adhesion to damaged blood vessel walls. VWF is synthesized and stored by endothelial cells in Weibel-Palade bodies, specialized organelles found in the endothelial cells of blood vessels, particularly in the lining of the smallest blood vessels called capillaries. Immunostaining for vWF is a valuable tool for identifying endothelial cells and their function in cardiovascular research, especially in studies related to haemostasis and thrombosis. Vascular Endothelial (VE)-cadherin is an essential component of endothelial adherens junctions that connect adjacent endothelial cells in vessels. It contributes to cell-cell adhesion, maintaining endothelial barrier integrity and regulating vascular permeability. VE-cadherin is widely used as an endothelial cell marker due to its specific expression in endothelial cells and its role in vascular homeostasis. It's employed in various studies exploring endothelial cell behaviour, angiogenesis, and endothelial barrier function. Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) is an enzyme responsible for producing the signalling second messenger gas nitric oxide (NO) in endothelial cells. NO is a potent vasodilator and plays a critical role in regulating vascular tone (state of dilation or constriction) and blood pressure. ENOS expression is highly specific to endothelial cells and is often used as a marker to confirm their presence. Studying eNOS and its regulation is essential for understanding endothelial dysfunction, a hallmark of many cardiovascular diseases. Beside these common markers, researchers also use other antibodies and probes targeting specific cell surface proteins, cytoplasmic markers, and transcription factors to characterize and study endothelial cells in more detail. For example, ERG (ETS-Related Gene), a transcription factor belonging to the ETS family that plays a role in endothelial cell development, is frequently expressed in endothelial cells, and can be used as a marker for their identification, along with SOX18 (SRY-Box Transcription Factor 18), a transcription factor involved in regulating genes related to vascular development and lymphatic endothelial cell differentiation. Collectively these endothelial markers allow researchers to investigate the heterogeneity of endothelial cells in different vascular beds, study their response to stimuli, assess vascular integrity, and understand how they contribute to cardiovascular health and disease. We provide a wide product range of research tools for studying endothelial cell markers, including CD45 antibodies, CD31 antibodies, CD34 antibodies, IL13 ELISA Kits, and ICAM1 ELISA Kits. Explore our full endothelial cell markers product range below and discover more, for less.