Mechanobiology and Mitochondria in Muscle Angiogenesis and Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction

Mechanobiology and Mitochondria in Muscle Angiogenesis and Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction

Mechanobiology, the study of mechanical forces influencing cellular behavior, plays a critical role in vascular health and disease, particularly in endothelial cells. This mini-review explores the intersection of mechanobiology and mitochondrial remodeling in endothelial cells, with a focus on their implications for muscle angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction. Endothelial cells are subjected to varying hemodynamic forces, such as unidirectional laminar and disturbed flow, which activate distinct mechanotransduction pathways and result in different cellular phenotypes. These forces regulate mitochondrial function, including bioenergetic adaptations and biosynthetic processes, which are crucial for endothelial cell responses in vascular remodeling, angiogenesis, and BBB integrity. Exercise-induced shear stress provides a context for understanding how these mechanical forces influence mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics (e.g., fusion/fission), and mitophagy in endothelial cells. Notably, unidirectional flow enhances mitochondrial function and endothelial cell quiescence, while disturbed flow promotes glycolysis and endothelial activation, contributing to pathologies such as atherosclerosis. This review emphasizes the need for further research into the molecular mechanisms linking mechanotransduction and mitochondrial function, particularly their roles in endothelial cell metabolism and vascular adaptation.