The coronary arteries provide blood supply to meet the energy demands of the heart for its contractile activity. Lining the vessel wall, human coronary artery endothelial cells (CAEC) are continuously exposed to fluid shear stress that induces changes in cell morphology and the production of endothelium-derived substances regulating vasoconstriction and vessel growth. CAEC also modulate the expression of cellular adhesion molecules to control and fine-tune inflammatory responses and fibrinolysis. These physiological properties allow CAEC cultures to be widely used in the study of different mechanisms; such as for endothelium dysfunction, pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, and the development of novel disease treatments.