Mechanotransduction in the Endothelium: Role of Membrane Proteins and Reactive Oxygen Species in Sensing, Transduction, and Transmission of the Signal with Altered Blood Flow

Abstract

Although several elements of mechanosensing such as the sensing event, the transduction, transmission, and reception of the mechanosignal are now reasonably well understood, the links among these discrete steps in the pathway are not clear. Thus, identifying the mechanisms for the interaction of the K(ATP) channel, the kinases, and ROS to drive long-term adaptive responses in ECs is necessary. A critical re-examination of the signaling events associated with complex flow patterns (turbulent, oscillatory) under physiological conditions is also essential for the progress in the field. Since these complex shear patterns may be associated with an atherosclerosis susceptible phenotype, a specific challenge will be the pharmacological modulation of the responses to altered signaling events that occur at specific sites of disturbed or obstructed flow.

Reactive Oxygen Species in Endothelial Function – From Disease to Adaptation –

“…These changes in vascular tone occur through the paracrine action of endothelial-derived vasorelaxants (eg, NO • , prostacyclin, and endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor [EDHF]) or vasoconstrictors (eg, leukotrienes and endothelin-1). 29 In most cases, vascular production of ROS has proven important in the regulation of vascular tone (for reviews see Chatterjee et al, 30 Brandes et al 31 ) (Figure 2).…”

Mechanosignaling in the vasculature: emerging concepts in sensing, transduction and physiological responses

“…Likewise, mechanical signaling or mechanotransduction involves the activation of receptors. Analogous to chemical signaling or chemotransduction, physical forces trigger a signaling process by which mechanical stimuli are translated into a biochemical and eventual physiological response (9,16,49,80).This symposium was organized to present mechanosignaling and related issues at the session titled "Mechanosignaling in the Vasculature: Shear stress, Endothelium and Redox Signaling" at the First Pan American Physiological Conference at Iguassu Falls in August 2014. Sponsored by the American Physiological Society, this symposium focused on various sites of vascular mechanotransduction in the cardiovascular system, primarily the vascular endothelium and the cardiomyocytes (primary sites for sensing blood flow and cardiac contractility respectively).…”

“…Likewise, mechanical signaling or mechanotransduction involves the activation of receptors. Analogous to chemical signaling or chemotransduction, physical forces trigger a signaling process by which mechanical stimuli are translated into a biochemical and eventual physiological response (9,16,49,80).…”

Enjoy your heart-beets. The role of dietary inorganic nitrate in cardiovascular health

“…Exercise training is a major natural activator of eNOS, an inhibitor of Nox, an inductor of anti-atherosclerotic endothelial phenotype, and hence an effective protective measure against CVD [25]. This is probably related to the fact that exercise, by increasing arterial laminar blood flow velocity and endothelial shear stress, up-regulates eNOS and endothelial NO production, which in turn down-regulates vascular Nox and vascular O 2 -generation [2,25,26]. In addition, exercise training was shown to normalise, in an endothelium-dependent manner, increased sympathetic nervous system activity and increased renin-angiotensin system activity in patients with CVD [25].…”