Phospholipase C: A Putative Mechanotransducer for Endothelial Cell Response to Acute Hemodynamic Changes

Endothelial cells (EC) in vivo are exposed to a multitude of physical forces with each pulse of the cardiac cycle. Ongoing studies support the concept that EC respond to these forces through specific signal transduction pathways. Previous investigations in our laboratory have shown that EC respond to the initiation of cyclic strain or to an acute increase in cyclic strain frequency with the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃). This study demonstrates that EC also respond to an acute decrease in cyclic stretch frequency with a transient increase in IP₃ production. Thus, EC detect both increases and decreases in cyclic stretch frequency with phospholipase C (PLC) activation leading to IP₃ generation.