Author(s)

Q. Wu, Y. Andreopoulos & S. Weinbaum

Abstract

In a recent paper by Weinbaum et al. [1], a theoretical model was developed for the structural organization and function of the thin 0.4 µm endothelial surface matrix layer of proteoglycans and glycoproteins that coats the inner lining of our blood vessels. In particular, it is shown that the core proteins in this layer are sufficiently stiff to serve as an exquisitely designed transducer of fluid shear stress to the cortical cytoskeleton of the endothelial cell in initiating intracellular signaling, but offer negligible resistance to buckling when red cell motion is arrested. This latter property allows highly flexible red cells to move through tightly fitting capillaries with remarkab

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