Although our study identifies the mechanism that mechanical cues modulate KLF2/4 expression through PIEZO1, we did not test the function of this mechanism in disease models, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and thoracic aortic aneurysm, or in specimens from patients with cardiovascular disease, which is a critical step for clinical translation. The gene discussed is KLF2; the disease is thoracic aortic aneurysm.