Review
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 10, 53-62 (January 2009) | doi:10.1038/nrm2596
Focus on: Mechanotransduction
Mechanotransduction in vascular physiology and atherogenesis
Cornelia Hahn1 & Martin A. Schwartz1,2 About the authors
Abstract
Forces that are associated with blood flow are major determinants of vascular morphogenesis and physiology. Blood flow is crucial for blood vessel development during embryogenesis and for regulation of vessel diameter in adult life. It is also a key factor in atherosclerosis, which, despite the systemic nature of major risk factors, occurs mainly in regions of arteries that experience disturbances in fluid flow. Recent data have highlighted the potential endothelial mechanotransducers that might mediate responses to blood flow, the effects of atheroprotective rather than atherogenic flow, the mechanisms that contribute to the progression of the disease and how systemic factors interact with flow patterns to cause atherosclerosis.
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Author affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
- Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, Mellon Prostate Cancer Research Center and Departments of Cell Biology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
Correspondence to: Martin A. Schwartz1,2 Email: maschwartz@virginia.edu
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