A novel in vitro flow system for changing flow direction on endothelial cells

JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICS

卷:45

Article

Wang, Chong¹  Lu, Hao²  Schwartz, Martin Alexander^1,3,4,5 

[1] Univ Virginia, Robert M Berne Cardiovasc Res Ctr, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA

[2] Univ Minnesota Twin Cities, St Anthony Falls Lab, Minneapolis, MN USA

[3] Univ Virginia, Dept Microbiol, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA

[4] Univ Virginia, Dept Biomed Engn, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA

[5] Univ Virginia, Dept Cell Biol, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA

关键词: Parallel plate device;    Shear stress;    Endothelial cells;    Mechanotransduction;    Cell alignment;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.01.045

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Atherosclerotic plaques localize to regions of flow disturbance, i.e. bifurcations, branch points and regions of high curvature. Shear stress in these regions can be multi-directional due to complex flow patterns such as time-varying vortices. However, commonly used in vitro flow models are incapable of changing flow orientation to any direction other than the reverse. We have developed a novel in vitro flow system to enable changes in flow direction to any angle. When cells were pre-aligned in laminar shear, and then rotated 90 degrees, cells re-aligned over 24 h. Re-alignment involved actin remodeling by gradual rotation of actin stress fibers. This device will enable that analysis of how endothelial cells sense changes in flow direction as occur in vivo. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free