Interstitial flow promotes vascular fibroblast, myofibroblast, and smooth muscle cell motility in 3-D collagen I via upregulation of MMP-1.

ABSTRACT: Neointima formation often occurs in regions where the endothelium has been damaged and the transmural interstitial flow is elevated. Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and fibroblasts/myofibroblasts (FBs/MFBs) contribute to intimal thickening by migrating from the media and adventitia into the site of injury. In this study, for the first time, the direct effects of interstitial flow on SMC and FB/MFB migration were investigated in an in vitro three-dimensional system. Collagen I gels were used to mimic three-dimensional extracellular matrix (ECM) for rat aortic SMCs and FBs/MFBs. Exposure to interstitial flow induced by 1 cmH(2)O pressure differential (shear stress, approximately 0.05 dyn/cm(2); flow velocity, approximately 0.5 microm/s; and Darcy permeability, approximately 10(-11) cm(2)

SUBMITTER: Shi ZD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2770759 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature