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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Arch Biochem Biophys. 2015 Dec 11;591:111–131. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2015.11.005

Figure 5. Mechanosensors and Mechanosensitive Signaling Pathways.

Figure 5

The endothelial cell senses shear stress through a variety of mechanosensors, including surface mechanoreceptors (ion channels, receptor tyrosine kinases, G protein coupled receptors), cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion complexes (PECAM1/VE-cadherin/VEGFR2 complex and focal adhesion kinases), the glycocalyx, and cytoskeletal elements. Adapted from Chatzizisis et al. (2007) (A) The shear stress stimulus leads to the activation of a variety of intracellular pathways. LS activates pathways that result in alignment in the direction of flow, increased NO production, and suppression of inflammatory cell adhesion molecules. On the other hand, OS induces high expression of cell adhesion molecules, production of inflammatory cytokines, high oxidative stress, and a leaky cell barrier Adapted from Noguchi & Jo (2011) (B).