Formation and Maintenance of the Natural Bypass Vessels of the Brain.

Ischemic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The main compensatory mechanism by which our body responds to reduced or blocked blood flow caused by ischemia is mediated by collateral vessels. Collaterals are present in many healthy tissues (including brain and heart) and serve as natural bypass vessels, by bridging adjacent arterial trees.

Association between erythrocyte dynamics and vessel remodelling in developmental vascular networks.

Sprouting angiogenesis is an essential vascularization mechanism consisting of sprouting and remodelling. The remodelling phase is driven by rearrangements of endothelial cells (ECs) within the post-sprouting vascular plexus. Prior work has uncovered how ECs polarize and migrate in response to flow-induced wall shear stress (WSS).

Endothelial Cell Orientation and Polarity Are Controlled by Shear Stress and VEGF Through Distinct Signaling Pathways.

Vascular networks form, remodel and mature under the influence of multiple signals of mechanical or chemical nature. How endothelial cells read and interpret these signals, and how they integrate information when they are exposed to both simultaneously is poorly understood. Here, we show using flow-induced shear stress and VEGF-A treatment on endothelial cells , that the response to the magnitude of a mechanical stimulus is influenced by the concentration of a chemical stimulus, and vice versa.

Primary cilia sensitize endothelial cells to BMP and prevent excessive vascular regression.

Blood flow shapes vascular networks by orchestrating endothelial cell behavior and function. How endothelial cells read and interpret flow-derived signals is poorly understood. Here, we show that endothelial cells in the developing mouse retina form and use luminal primary cilia to stabilize vessel connections selectively in parts of the remodeling vascular plexus experiencing low and intermediate shear stress.