Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

MOLECULAR AND BIOPHYSICAL BASIS OF MECHANOTRANSDUCTION IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Abstract

This study investigates the molecular and biophysical mechanisms of mechanotransduction in endothelial cells, with a focus on how physical forces such as shear stress and cyclic stretch are converted into biochemical signals. Laboratory simulations and computer-based models were employed to demonstrate the role of mechanosensitive ion channels, cytoskeletal dynamics, and membrane-associated signaling complexes in endothelial mechanotransduction. The experiments highlighted how changes in membrane tension, ion fluxes, and cytoskeletal remodeling contribute to vascular function and homeostasis. The results provide insights into the bioelectrical and molecular foundations of endothelial responses to mechanical stimuli and underscore the importance of combining theoretical and experimental approaches in understanding vascular physiology.

Keywords

Mechanotransduction; Endothelial cells; Shear stress; Cytoskeleton; Ion channels; Membrane tension; Vascular biofizika; Signal transduction; Molecular dynamics; Biophysical modeling

PDF

References

  1. Chien, S. (2007). Mechanotransduction and endothelial cell homeostasis: the wisdom of the cell. Physiological Reviews, 87(4), 1215–1233.
  2. Hahn, C., & Schwartz, M. A. (2009). Mechanotransduction in vascular physiology and atherogenesis. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 10(1), 53–62.
  3. Li, Y. S., Haga, J. H., & Chien, S. (2005). Molecular basis of the effects of shear stress on vascular endothelial cells. Journal of Biomechanics, 38(10), 1949–1971.
  4. Wang, N., Butler, J. P., & Ingber, D. E. (1993). Mechanotransduction across the cell surface and through the cytoskeleton. Science, 260(5111), 1124–1127.
  5. Davies, P. F. (1995). Flow-mediated endothelial mechanotransduction. Physiological Reviews, 75(3), 519–560.
  6. Ingber, D. E. (2006). Cellular mechanotransduction: putting all the pieces together again. FASEB Journal, 20(7), 811–827.
  7. Tzima, E., et al. (2005). A mechanosensory complex that mediates the endothelial cell response to fluid shear stress. Nature, 437(7057), 426–431.
  8. Sukharev, S., & Sachs, F. (2012). Molecular force transduction by ion channels: diversity and unifying principles. Journal of Cell Science, 125(13), 3075–3083.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.