In vitro simulation of pulsatile flow and combined flow with compression upregulated eNOS mRNA expression by a factor of 2.08 +/- 0.25 and 2.11 +/- 0.21, respectively, at 6 hours.
Does simulated external pneumatic compression increase nitric oxide production and eNOS mRNA expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells?
In vitro simulation of external pneumatic compression demonstrates that pulsatile flow, rather than compression alone, enhances endothelial nitric oxide release and eNOS expression, suggesting a mechanism for DVT prevention.
External pneumatic compression (EPC) is effective in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is thought to alter endothelial thromboresistant properties. We investigated the effect of EPC on changes in nitric oxide (NO), a critical mediator in the regulation of vasomotor and platelet function. An in vitro cell culture system was developed to simulate flow and vessel collapse conditions under EPC. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured and subjected to tube compression (C), pulsatile flow (F), or a combination of the two (FC). NO production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression were measured. The data demonstrate that in the F and FC groups, there is a rapid release of NO followed by a sustained increase. NO production levels in the F and FC groups were almost identical, whereas the C group produced the same low amount of NO as the control group. Conditions F and FC also upregulate eNOS mRNA expression by a factor of 2.08 +/- 0.25 and 2.11 +/- 0.21, respectively, at 6 h. Experiments with different modes of EPC show that NO production and eNOS mRNA expression respond to different time cycles of compression. These results implicate enhanced NO release as a potentially important factor in the prevention of DVT.
Dai et al. (2002) studied Deep vein thrombosis prevention. In vitro simulation of external pneumatic compression (pulsatile flow and tube compression) vs. Control group was evaluated on Nitric oxide production and eNOS mRNA expression. In vitro simulation of pulsatile flow and combined flow with compression upregulated eNOS mRNA expression by a factor of 2.08 +/- 0.25 and 2.11 +/- 0.21, respectively, at 6 hours.