Effects of shear stress on differentiation of stem cells into endothelial cells

Figure 1 Shear-stress-induced signaling pathways in early endothelial differentiation. This figure describes how the mechanosensitive molecules tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domain-2and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 sense the shear stress, induce phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling activation, and further influence the gene expression of various paracrine factors ultimately regulating vessel maintenance and reformation. Akt: Protein kinase B; bFGF: Basic fibroblast growth factor; CXCR4: C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4; EPC: Endothelial progenitor cells PI3K: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase; Tie2: Tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domain-2;VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor.