Flow-dependent regulation of gene expression in vascular endothelial cells.
Vascular endothelial cells are constantly exposed to wall shear stress generated by blood flow. Endothelial cells act as mechanoceptors sensing and responding to shear stress, and play a role in flow-dependent phenomena such as angiogenesis, vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated that endothelial cell functions change in response to shear stress, and that the responses are often accompanied by changes in related gene expression. More recently there has been evidence that genes known to be regulated by shear stress may have a common cis-element (shear stress responsive element; SSRE) in their promoter regions. A molecular mechanism for endothelial cell responses to mechanical stress is close to being elucidated. In this paper, shear-stress-mediated regulation of endothelial gene expression is reviewed.
Ando
J
J
Department of Cardiovascular Biomechanics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokoyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Kamiya
A
A
D001775:Blood Circulation; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1