Vascular Responses to Shear Stress: The Involvement of Mechanosensors in Endothelial Cells~!2009-12-23~!2010-04-27~!2010-08-06~!

Abstract

Shear stress, the frictional drag on the endothelium from blood flow, is a major determinant of vascular physi- ology and pathology. Due to the pulsatile nature of blood flow, blood vessels are subjected to significant variations in me- chanical forces. Endothelial cells situated at the interface between blood and the vessel wall play a crucial role in detecting and responding to the mechanical forces generated by shear stress. Multiple sensing mechanisms are used by endothelial cells to detect changes in mechanical forces, leading to the activation of signaling networks. This review attempts to bring together recent findings on the mechanosensors present in the endothelial cells, and the regulation of endothelium-derived vasoactive autacoid production by shear stress.