Nanoscale Patterning of Extracellular Matrix Alters Endothelial Function under Shear Stress.

ABSTRACT: The role of nanotopographical extracellular matrix (ECM) cues in vascular endothelial cell (EC) organization and function is not well-understood, despite the composition of nano- to microscale fibrillar ECMs within blood vessels. Instead, the predominant modulator of EC organization and function is traditionally thought to be hemodynamic shear stress, in which uniform shear stress induces parallel-alignment of ECs with anti-inflammatory function, whereas disturbed flow induces a disorganized configuration with pro-inflammatory function. Since shear stress acts on ECs by applying a mechanical force concomitant with inducing spatial patterning of the cells, we sought to decouple the effects of shear stress using parallel-aligned nanofibrillar collagen films that induce parallel EC alignment

SUBMITTER: Nakayama KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4758680 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature