Pulsatile Shear Stress in Endothelial Mechanobiology

Endothelial cells (ECs) line the luminal surface of blood vessels. They are exposed to, and differentially respond to, hemodynamic forces depending on their anatomic location. Pulsatile shear stress (PS) is defined by laminar flow and is predominantly located in straight vascular regions, while disturbed or oscillatory shear stress (OS) is localized to branch points and bifurcations. Such flow patterns have become a central focus of vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, because the focal distribution of endothelial dysfunction corresponds to regions exposed to OS, whereas endothelial homeostasis is maintained in regions defined by PS. Mechanotransduction is any of various mechanisms by which cells convert mechanical stimulus, such as PS or OS, into electrochemical activity, such as activation of signaling pathways and transcriptional regulation

Deciphering the mechanotransduction events that occur in ECs in response to differential flow patterns has required the innovation of multidisciplinary approaches in both in vitro and in vivo systems. The results from these studies have identified a multitude of shear stress-regulated molecular networks in the endothelium that are implicated in health and disease [1]. This article will discuss how you can use the Cellix pumps for Pulsatile Shear Stress experiments in Endothelial Mechanobiology.

The role of Endothelial Mechanobiology for improvement of human health

A paradigm shift in the field of mechanotransduction has been seen by resolving mechanisms demonstrating the active role ECs play in the pathogenesis of vascular-related disorders, such as atherosclerosis. These advancements were enabled in part through the application of innovative approaches that amalgamat