This review aims to survey the current state of mechanotransduction in vascular smooth
muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs), including their sensing of mechanical …

Ion channels play a central role in the regulation of nearly every cellular process. Dating
back to the classic 1952 Hodgkin–Huxley model of the generation of the action potential, ion …

Capillaries are equipped to sense neurovascular coupling agents released onto the outer
wall of a capillary, translating these external signals into electrical/Ca2+ changes that play a …

The ability to detect stimuli from the environment plays a pivotal role in our survival. The
molecules that allow the detection of such signals include ion channels, which are proteins …

Abstract Phosphatidylinositol (4, 5) bisphosphate (PI (4, 5) P2) has become a major focus in
biochemistry, cell biology and physiology owing to its diverse functions at the plasma …

Pericytes, attached to the surface of capillaries, play an important role in regulating local
blood flow. Using optogenetic tools and genetically encoded reporters in conjunction with …

The CLDN5 gene encodes claudin-5 (CLDN-5) that is expressed in endothelial cells and
forms tight junctions which limit the passive diffusions of ions and solutes. The blood–brain …

Phosphoinositides (PPIns) are lipid signaling molecules that act as master regulators of
cellular signaling. Recent studies have revealed novel roles of PPIns in myriad cellular …

Mechanical forces influence different cell types in our bodies. Among the earliest forces
experienced in mammals is blood movement in the vascular system. Blood flow starts at the …

The blood vessels of the brain are lined with endothelial cells and it has been long known
that these help to regulate blood flow to the brain. However, there is increasing evidence …