Regulation of Endothelial Activation and Vascular Inflammation by Shear Stress - Bioanalysis Advanced Materials Methods and Devices - page 76

Chapter 6
Regulation of Endothelial Activation
and Vascular Inflammation by Shear Stress
Annapurna Nayak, Carola S. K¨nig, Uday Kishore, and Paul C. Evans
Abstract Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disorder caused by genetic and
environmental factors such as cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and
smoking and is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Blood
flow is known to exert shear stress on the vascular endothelium. Atherosclerotic
lesions occur predominantly at sites of low shear, whereas regions of the vascula-
ture exposed to high shear are protected. Low shear stress leads to activation of
endothelial cells which in turn can initiate inflammation. Shear stress can also
modulate several signalling pathways mediated by the activated endothelial cells.
The molecules involved in these signalling pathways can be atheroprotective or
atherogenic. The aim of this chapter is to discuss the effects of low shear stress on
the regulation of endothelial activation and subsequent vascular inflammation.
A. Nayak
Centre for Infection, Immunity and Disease Mechanisms, Biosciences, School of Health
Sciences and Social Care, Brunel University, London, UK
Centre for Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru
Institute for Advanced Studies, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
C.S. K ¨ nig
Brunel Institute for Bioengineering, Brunel University, London, UK
U. Kishore
Centre for Infection, Immunity and Disease Mechanisms, Biosciences, School of Health
Sciences and Social Care, Brunel University, London, UK
P.C. Evans ( * )
Department of Cardiovascular Science, Sheffield University Medical School,
Sheffield University, Sheffield, UK
e-mail: [e-mail]