Figure 6.

Model of vessel stabilization and alignment under oscillatory stretch. A) Oscillatory strain is first sensed by the fibroblasts cells (green cells), which respond by translocating YAP to the nucleus, and by an increase in cytoplasmic β‐catenin which results in alignment and increased proliferation. B) Next, endothelial cells form aligned vessels according to the fibroblast alignment; this vasculature is more complex and longer when compared to the static control and associated with AMOT upregulation. C) Then, vessel stabilization occurs: fibroblasts differentiate and express more αSMA and are recruited to the vessels (green cells); the ECM aligns and stabilizes the vessels (light blue fibers); Ang1, a vessel stabilization growth factor, is secreted.