A critical point in mammalian development occurs before mid-embryogenesis when the
heart starts to beat, pushing blood into the nascent endothelial lattice. This pushing force is a
signal, detected by endothelial cells as a frictional force (shear stress) to trigger cellular
changes that underlie the essential processes of vascular remodeling and expansion
required for embryonic growth. The processes are complex and multifactorial and Piezo1
became a recognized player only 2 years ago, 4 years after Piezo1's initial discovery as a …