Effects of fluid shear stress on gene regulation of vascular cells

Hemodynamic forces such as fluid shear stress play an active role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes of the cardiovascular system. Shear stress resulting from blood flow and transmural plasma flux alters the function of vascular cell (primarily endothelial cells), leading to both rapid and slower adaptive tissue responses. Transmission of the shear stress signal throughout the vascular cell involves a complex interplay between cytoskeletal and biochemical elements and results in changes in structure, metabolism, and gene expression. Herein we review current knowledge on flow-induced mechanotransduction in the vascular endothelial cell and the molecular mechanisms believed responsible for shear-induced endothelial and smooth muscle cell gene regulation with an emphasis on signal transduction.