Open AccessTurbulent fluid shear stress induces vascular endothelial cell turnover in vitro.
Author(s) -
Peter F. Davies,
Andrea Remuzzi,
Emma Gordon,
C. Forbes Dewey,
Michael A. Gimbrone
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.83.7.2114
Subject(s) - shear stress , laminar flow , endothelial stem cell , biophysics , shear (geology) , turbulence , in vitro , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , materials science , biology , mechanics , biochemistry , composite material , physics
The effects of hemodynamic forces upon vascular endothelial cell turnover were studied by exposing contact-inhibited confluent cell monolayers to shear stresses of varying amplitude in either laminar or turbulent flow. Laminar shear stresses (range, 8-15 dynes/cm2; 24 hr) induced cell alignment in the direction of flow without initiating the cell cycle. In contrast, turbulent shear stresses as low as 1.5 dynes/cm2 for as short a period as 3 hr stimulated substantial endothelial DNA synthesis in the absence of cell alignment, discernible cell retraction, or cell loss. The results of these in vitro experiments suggest that in atherosclerotic lesion-prone regions of the vascular system, unsteady blood flow characteristics, rather than the magnitude of wall shear stress per se, may be the major determinant of hemodynamically induced endothelial cell turnover.