Mechanical activation of signaling pathways in the cardiovascular system

Mechanical forces are constantly exerting stress upon the tissues and cells of the cardiovascular system. To influence the biology of cells, these stimuli, which exist in the physical domain, must be converted into signals in the biochemical language of the cells. This process has been referred to as mechano-chemical signal transduction, or mechanotransduction. Although a great deal is known about which aspects of cardiovascular biology are influenced or dictated by physical forces, a great deal of uncertainty exists about which of the many signaling pathways that respond in cardiovascular cells to mechanical stimuli specifically regulate mechanosensitive aspects of the "cardiovascular phenotype". Even less is known regarding the identity and function of structures and catalysts that operate at the physical-biochemical interface and act to convert physical energy into signals of biological relevance. This article presents what is known regarding signaling pathways in cells of the cardiovascular system, which have been shown empirically to respond to mechanical stimuli, and what can be inferred from biochemical and pharmacological studies in cultured cardiovascular cells regarding the potential for certain signaling pathways to be involved in the manifestation of mechanically responsive phenotypes in the cardiovascular system.