Integrin-mediated mechanotransduction requires its dynamic interaction with specific extracellular matrix (ECM) Iigands

摘要

The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of integrins in transducing fluid shear stress into intracellular signals in vascu- lar endothelial cells, a fundamental process in vascular biology. We demonstrated that shear stress activates specific integrins in endothelial cells plated on substrates containing the cognate extracellular matrix (ECM) ligands. The shear stress-induced mechanotransduction, as manifested by integrin--Shc associa- tion, was abolished when new integrin--ECM ligand interactions were prevented by either blocking the integrin-binding sites of ECM ligands or conjugating the integrins to immobilized anti- bodies. Our results indicate that the dynamic formation of new connections between integrins and their specific ECM ligands is critical in relaying the signals induced by shear stress to intra- cellular pathways.