Molecular Sensors of Blood Flow in Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Mechanical stress from blood flow has a significant effect on endothelial physiology, with a key role in initiating vasoregulatory signals. Disturbances in blood flow, such as in regions of disease-associated stenosis, arterial branch points, and sharp turns, can induce proatherogenic phenotypes in endothelial cells. The disruption of vascular homeostasis as a result of endothelial dysfunction may contribute to early and late stages of atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of coronary artery disease. In-depth knowledge of the mechanobiology of endothelial cells is essential to identifying mechanosensory complexes involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In this review, we describe different blood flow patterns and summarize current knowledge on mechanosensory molecules regulating endothelial vasoregulatory functions, with clinical implications. Such information may help in the search for novel therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: atherosclerosis; endothelium; mechanoreceptors; mechanotransduction; shear stress.