Multifaceted Role of Notch Signaling in Vascular Health and Diseases.

Notch signaling is evolutionarily conserved from to mammals and it functions as an essential modulator of vascular growth and development by directing endothelial cell specification, proliferation, migration, arteriovenous differentiation, inflammation, and apoptosis. The interplay between Notch and other signaling pathways plays a homeostatic role by modulating multiple vascular functions, including permeability regulation, angiogenesis, and vascular remodeling. This review explores current knowledge on Notch signaling in vascular development, homeostasis, and disease. It also discusses recent developments in understanding how endothelial Notch signaling affects vascular inflammation via cytokines or aberrant shear stress in endothelial cells while addressing the reciprocal relationship between Notch signaling and inflammation.