Effects of Shear Stress on the Gene Expressions of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase, Endothelin-1, and Thrombomodulin in Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Abstract

Long-term exposure to a physiological shear stress in the retinal arterioles up-regulated eNOS and TM mRNA expressions and downregulated ET-1 mRNA expression in HRMECs. These results suggest that shear stress may be associated with the vasoregulatory and antithrombotic properties of retinal vessels under physiological conditions present during retinal circulation.