Functional Roles of Shear Stress in Vascular Endothelial Cells

Endothelial cells play remarkable roles in regulating vascular function in health and disease. Meanwhile, shear stress, which is created due to the friction of the flowing blood on the endothelium of the arterial wall, is critical for vascular homeostasis. Here, the shear stress patterns and its effect on gene expression and vascular function are reviewed.