Vascular endothelial cells (ECs), forming a boundary between the circulating blood and the
vessel wall, are constantly subjected to fluid shear stress due to blood flow. The aim of this
study was to determine the role of the recently identified IκB kinases (IKKs) in shear stress
activation of NF-κB and to elucidate the upstream signaling mechanism that mediates IKK
activation. Our results demonstrate that IKKs in ECs are activated by shear stress in a rapid
and transient manner. This IKK activation is followed by IκB degradation and NF-κB …