Vascular permeability regulation by fluid shear stress

Blood vessels deliver oxygen, nutrients and immune cells to all the tissues in our body. Once they reach target tissues, tissue-specific regulation of vascular permeability is critical for the controlled transport of macromolecules and immune cells across endothelial monolayers. Dysregulation of vascular integrity is involved in a number of vascular as well as non-vascular diseases. Blood flow patterns and flow rates vary depending on vessel type and geometry and regulate vascular barrier function by modulating endothelial mechanotransduction. In this review, we will focus on how shear stress influences various types of vascular permeability by acting on cell-cell adhesion, cell-ECM interaction, cytoskeletal changes and investigate related pathways. Flow-dependent vascular permeability diseases will be discussed in detail with updated therapeutic perspectives.