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Vascular Cell Physiology Under Shear Flow: Role of Cell Mechanics and Mechanotransduction

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Mechanical and Chemical Signaling in Angiogenesis

Part of the book series: Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials ((SMTEB,volume 12))

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Abstract

Whether examined at the micro- or macroscale, biological phenomenona are not exempt from physical laws and principles. The vasculature is frequently utilized as a model system to better understand and analyze the consequences of biophysical forces on biochemical processes and ultimate biological phenotypes. Given the complexities of biological systems, there is an inherent need to focus in order to properly elucidate mechanisms. Mechanotransduction and cell mechanics in various stages of angiogenesis have long been examined at distinct length-scales ranging from subcellular, cellular, multi-cellular, tissue, and beyond. This chapter will highlight research over the past decades that have contributed to revealing the importance and interplay between biophysical forces (compressive and shear flow) and biological behavior (motility, regulation of smooth muscle cells, polarity). Abnormal biophysical forces, such as hypertension, contribute significantly to vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and aneurysm formation. Understanding the relationship between biophysical forces and biological behavior is required to understand the mechanisms of vascular disease.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the American Heart Association 09BGIA2260384 (M.T.H), and the National Institute of Health grants 1R01HL103728 (M.T.H.), R01HL101972 (O.J.T.M.) and 1U54CA143906 (O.J.T.M.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Devon Scott, Owen J. T. McCarty & Monica T. Hinds

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

    Wei Tan

  3. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA

    Jerry S. H. Lee

  4. Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA

    Jerry S. H. Lee

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  1. Devon Scott
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Correspondence to Devon Scott .

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  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell Univesity, Ithaca, USA

    Cynthia A. Reinhart-King

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Scott, D., Tan, W., Lee, J.S.H., McCarty, O.J.T., Hinds, M.T. (2013). Vascular Cell Physiology Under Shear Flow: Role of Cell Mechanics and Mechanotransduction. In: Reinhart-King, C. (eds) Mechanical and Chemical Signaling in Angiogenesis. Studies in Mechanobiology, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials, vol 12. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30856-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30856-7_6

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