Mechanisms of endothelial flow sensing

Fluid shear stress plays a key role in sculpting blood vessels during development, in adult vascular homeostasis and in vascular pathologies. During evolution, endothelial cells evolved several mechanosensors that convert physical forces into biochemical signals, a process termed mechanotransduction. This Review discusses our understanding of endothelial flow sensing and suggests important questions for future investigation. Aitken and colleagues discuss the current understanding of how endothelial cells sense blood flow, focusing on the mechanosensing and mechanotransduction molecules and mechanisms, and highlighting challenges and outstanding questions that should lead future research efforts.