血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cell, VSMC)在血管生理功能维持和动脉粥样硬 化、动脉硬化与钙化、动脉瘤与夹层等血管疾病发生、发展、转归过程中发挥重要作用。因其表型的 高度可塑性,VSMC可对血液动力学因素、管壁细胞外基质刚度和拓扑等多种机械力刺激予以应 答,通过表型转换而参与血管稳态和重塑调控。本文阐述了VSMC感知、转导和响应其所处力学 微环境的关键受体和信号转导途径,并基于作者研究团队近年来的工作,重点介绍了酪氨酸激酶受 体型机械力信号受体和核机械力信号受体等在机械力感知过程中的作用和机制。

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play intricate roles in both the physiological behavior and pathological alterations (e.g., the genesis of diseases such as atherosclerosis, vascular stiffening/calcification, aortic aneurysm and dissection) of blood vessels. By delving into the phenotypic responses of VSMCs to a range of mechanical cues, including hemodynamic forces, extracellular matrix stiffness, and topography, valuable insights can be gained into the mechanoreceptors and mechanotransduction pathways that enable these cells to sense and adapt to their physical environment. In addition to the existing research in this field, the authors' own expertise and experience are also incorporated. Their studies on mechanoreceptors (e.g., tyrosine kinase mechanoreceptors and nuclear mechanoreceptors) and the functional regulation of VSMCs are discussed, along with their investigation into the role of mechanoreceptors in the development and progression of vascular diseases such as arterial stiffening.