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Effects of cyclic strain on vascular cells
John D Kakisis1, Christos D Liapis, Bauer E Sumpio
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, USA.
Endothelium : Journal of Endothelial Cell Research
|June 19, 2004
Summary
Vascular cells sense mechanical forces like shear stress through mechanosensors, initiating signaling pathways that alter gene expression. This understanding offers new therapeutic targets for vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cell Biology
- Mechanobiology
Background:
- Hemodynamic forces (shear stress, cyclic strain) significantly influence vascular cell behavior.
- The intricate mechanisms by which cells perceive and transmit mechanical signals to the nucleus are under active investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular pathways involved in vascular cell mechanotransduction.
- To identify key mechanosensors and downstream signaling molecules in vascular cells.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on mechanobiology in vascular cells.
- Identification of known mechanosensors (integrins, ion channels, receptors, G proteins).
- Analysis of intracellular signaling cascades (kinases, second messengers) and transcription factor activation.
Main Results:
- Mechanosensors convert mechanical stimuli into intracellular chemical signals.
- Activation of signaling pathways (MAPKs, PKC, Akt) leads to transcription factor modulation (AP-1, CRE, Egr-1, NF-kappa B).
- Altered gene expression regulates critical cellular processes including proliferation, apoptosis, and migration.
Conclusions:
- The study outlines a comprehensive model of vascular cell mechanotransduction.
- This knowledge provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of vascular diseases like atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia.
- Understanding these pathways may lead to new therapeutic strategies for vascular conditions.