Mechanotransduction of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells under varied mechanical stimuli

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are the gatekeeper of liver to maintain hepatic homeostasis. They are formed into the highly specialized endothelium between vascular lumen and the space of Disse and are mechanosensitive to respond varied microenvironments. Shear stress and mechanical stretch induced by blood perfusion and substrate stiffness enhancement derived from deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) are major mechanical stimuli that surround LSECs. This review introduces how LSECs respond to the external forces in both physiological and pathological cases and what is the interplay of LSECs with other hepatic cells. Molecular mechanisms that potentiate LSECs mechanotransduction are also discussed.