Integration of substrate- and flow-derived stresses in endothelial cell mechanobiology

Dessalles et al review the responses of vascular endothelial cells to mechanical forces exerted by both blood flow and physical contact with the basement membrane. Special attention is paid to how endothelial cells respond to multiple mechanical cues that are exerted simultaneously. Endothelial cells (ECs) lining all blood vessels are subjected to large mechanical stresses that regulate their structure and function in health and disease. Here, we review EC responses to substrate-derived biophysical cues, namely topography, curvature, and stiffness, as well as to flow-derived stresses, notably shear stress, pressure, and tensile stresses. Because these mechanical cues in vivo are coupled and are exerted simultaneously on ECs, we also review the effects of multiple cues and describe burgeoning in vitro approaches for elucidating how ECs integrate and interpret various mechanical stimuli. We conclude by highlighting key open questions and upcoming challenges in the field of EC mechanobiology.

Automated summary

In this review, Dessalles and colleagues examine how vascular endothelial cells respond to mechanical forces from blood flow and physical contact with the basement membrane. They focus on how endothelial cells integrate and interpret different mechanical cues simultaneously, highlighting the importance of understanding these complex interactions in health and disease. The authors also discuss the challenges and open questions in the field of endothelial cell mechanobiology.