August 1, 1981Journal of Biomechanical Engineering
The Dynamic Response of Vascular Endothelial Cells to Fluid Shear Stress
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Discussion
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Implication
In vitro study demonstrates fluid shear stress alters cell alignment and functional properties in bovine aortic monolayers, suggesting mechanical forces regulate vascular physiology.
Key Points
- To investigate the dynamic morphological and physiological responses of vascular endothelial cells exposed to controlled levels of fluid shear stress in vitro.
- Cultured monolayers of bovine aortic endothelial cells were subjected to uniform fluid shear stress using a cone-plate apparatus.
- Assessed proliferation rates in subconfluent cultures under continuous shear stress (1–5 dynes/cm²) compared to static conditions.
- Evaluated cell shape, flow alignment, wound regeneration, endocytosis, and cytoskeletal remodeling in confluent monolayers exposed to laminar shear stress (5–10 dynes/cm²).
- Subconfluent cultures under 1–5 dynes/cm² shear proliferated at rates matching static cultures, achieving equivalent saturation densities of approximately 1.0–1.5 × 10⁵ cells/cm².
- Confluent monolayers under 5–10 dynes/cm² laminar shear exhibited a time-dependent transition from polygonal to ellipsoidal morphology and oriented uniformly with the direction of flow.
- Shear stress magnitude and direction qualitatively altered linear wound regeneration, fluid endocytosis, cytoskeletal assembly, and nonthrombogenic surface properties.
Cite This Study
Dewey et al. (1981) studied this question.