Mechanosensing by Vascular Endothelium

XR Lim, OF Harraz - Annual Review of Physiology, 2024 - annualreviews.org
Annual Review of Physiology, 2024annualreviews.org
Mechanical forces influence different cell types in our bodies. Among the earliest forces
experienced in mammals is blood movement in the vascular system. Blood flow starts at the
embryonic stage and ceases when the heart stops. Blood flow exposes endothelial cells
(ECs) that line all blood vessels to hemodynamic forces. ECs detect these mechanical forces
(mechanosensing) through mechanosensors, thus triggering physiological responses such
as changes in vascular diameter. In this review, we focus on endothelial mechanosensing …
Mechanical forces influence different cell types in our bodies. Among the earliest forces experienced in mammals is blood movement in the vascular system. Blood flow starts at the embryonic stage and ceases when the heart stops. Blood flow exposes endothelial cells (ECs) that line all blood vessels to hemodynamic forces. ECs detect these mechanical forces (mechanosensing) through mechanosensors, thus triggering physiological responses such as changes in vascular diameter. In this review, we focus on endothelial mechanosensing and on how different ion channels, receptors, and membrane structures detect forces and mediate intricate mechanotransduction responses. We further highlight that these responses often reflect collaborative efforts involving several mechanosensors and mechanotransducers. We close with a consideration of current knowledge regarding the dysregulation of endothelial mechanosensing during disease. Because hemodynamic disruptions are hallmarks of cardiovascular disease, studying endothelial mechanosensing holds great promise for advancing our understanding of vascular physiology and pathophysiology.
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