Gang Dong et al. investigated the effect of mechanical stretch on endothelial cells (ECs) by simulating portal hypertension using an elastic silicone chamber, and found that the mechanical stretch reduced the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in ECs by increasing the NEDD4-mediated ubiquitinated degradation of PPARγ, suggesting that PPARγ may be a novel therapeutic target for portal hypertension [108,157] (Table 1). The gene discussed is NEDD4; the disease is liver disorder.