Ando J
Department of Cardiovascular Biomechanics, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 1996 Mar;107(3):141-52.
Blood flow plays important roles in the morphogenesis of blood vessels. For instance, increases in blood flow induce dilatation of the blood vessels, while decreases in blood flow cause reduction of vessel diameter. Blood flow also stimulates angiogenesis. In these blood flow-dependent phenomena, wall shear stress generated by flowing blood that acts on vascular endothelial cells works as a key factor. Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that mechanical forces, shear stress, actually modulate the morphology and many functions of endothelial cells, and these forces also alter their gene expression. More recently, a cis-acting shear stress responsive element was identified in the promoters of endothelial genes that respond to shear stress, suggesting a common mechanism linking biomechanical forces to gene expression. Details of the process in which shear stress-mediated changes in endothelial cell functions lead to vascular remodeling and angiogenesis, however, are not entirely clear. Elucidation of this problem will give us not only a better understanding of the morphogenesis of blood vessels but also new therapies that can help manage or prevent cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis.
血流在血管形态发生过程中发挥着重要作用。例如，血流增加会导致血管扩张，而血流减少则会使血管直径缩小。血流还会刺激血管生成。在这些依赖血流的现象中，作用于血管内皮细胞的流动血液产生的壁面剪应力起着关键作用。大量的体内和体外研究表明，机械力，即剪应力，实际上会调节内皮细胞的形态和多种功能，并且这些力也会改变它们的基因表达。最近，在对剪应力作出反应的内皮基因启动子中鉴定出了一个顺式作用剪应力反应元件，这表明存在一种将生物力学力与基因表达联系起来的共同机制。然而，剪应力介导的内皮细胞功能变化导致血管重塑和血管生成的具体过程细节尚不完全清楚。阐明这个问题不仅能让我们更好地理解血管的形态发生，还能为治疗包括动脉粥样硬化在内的心血管疾病提供新的疗法。
