Mechanical stretch implications for vascular endothelial cells: Altered extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling in pathological conditions

摘要

Aims: Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, thrombosis and atherosclerosis are responses to mechanical forces applied to the endothelium. Endothelial cells respond to hemodynamic mechanical forces such as cellular mechanical stretching. We investigated the expression of glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans and other extracellular matrix molecules in endothelial cells subjected to various mechanical stimuli.