Fig. 1.

Mechanosensitive structures of the endothelium. Blood flow-induced hemodynamic forces such as shear stress, hydrostatic pressure, and circumferential stretch can be sensed by EC through mechanosensors. These structures sense the mechanical forces and translate them to biochemical signals by specific proteins located on/in the membranes of endothelial cells. Potential cellular mechanosensitive and responsive structures are depicted in this figure. EC, endothelial cell; IEL, internal elastic lamina; VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cell