Premium
Biomedical research applications of a novel double‐layer parallel‐plate flow chamber
Author(s) -
Lee Won Hee,
Kang Sungkwon,
Hirani Anjali,
Vlachos Pavlos P,
Lee Yong Woo
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.a1219-a
Subject(s) - laminar flow , shear stress , endothelial stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , ischemia , endothelium , chemistry , in vitro , biophysics , biology , medicine , materials science , endocrinology , mechanics , biochemistry , physics , composite material
Shear stress‐mediated signaling pathways have been known to trigger endothelial cell responses and contribute to the pathophysiology of human vascular diseases. To study the dynamic response of endothelial cells to controlled levels of shear stress, we have recently developed a new double‐layer parallel‐plate flow chamber (PPFC). The present study was designed to test whether the novel PPFC can be applied to examine the effects of shear stress on the structure and function of endothelial cells. Rat brain endothelial cells (RBE4) and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC‐1) were either maintained in static condition or exposed to laminar flow for 24 h. The morphological changes and attenuated expression of pro‐inflammatory mediators were observed in endothelial cells exposed to the flow. In addition, RBE4 and HMEC‐1 cells were either maintained in continuous laminar flow condition ( Normal flow ) or subjected to 1 h of flow cessation followed by reperfusion of flow ( Ischemia/Reperfusion ). The real‐time RT‐PCR analysis showed that Ischemia/Reperfusion significantly up‐regulated expression of pro‐inflammatory mediators, such as IL‐6, ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1, and E‐selectin, in endothelial cells compared to Normal flow . These data indicate that our newly designed PPFC can provide a better in vitro system for versatile applications of biomedical research (This work was supported by the SBES Seed Grants).