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Updated: Nov 1, 2025

Author Spotlight: Studying hiPSC-Derived Endothelial Cells Cultured Under Fluidic-Mediated Mechanical Stimulation
Published on: July 28, 2023
Endothelial cell mechanics and blood flow forces in vascular morphogenesis
Li-Kun Phng1, Heinz-Georg Belting2
1Laboratory for Vascular Morphogenesis, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.
Abstract:
The vertebrate cardiovascular system is made up by a hierarchically structured network of highly specialised blood vessels. This network emerges during early embryogenesis and evolves in size and complexity concomitant with embryonic growth and organ formation. Underlying this plasticity are actin-driven endothelial cell behaviours, which allow endothelial cells to change their shape and move within the vascular network. In this review, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in vascular network formation and how these intrinsic mechanisms are influenced by haemodynamic forces provided by pressurized blood flow. While most of this review focusses on in vivo evidence from zebrafish embryos, we also mention complementary findings obtained in other experimental systems.
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