Abstract
Angiogenesis plays an important role in maintenance of homeostasis, such as tissue growth, or tissue regeneration. Endothelial cells (ECs), which have a key role in angiogenesis, are exposed to the increased pressure under several health-maintenance conditions. However, the relationship between angiogenesis and the pressured condition is still unclear. Here, we report a phenomenon in which hydrostatic pressure promotes angiogenesis. We show that pressure exposure induces transient phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in ECs. Phosphorylated ERK translocates from cytoplasm to nucleus, and leads to EC tube formation. Inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK, we confirm pressure-induced transient ERK phosphorylation is essential to endothelial tube formation.
