New insights into shear stress-induced endothelial signalling and barrier function: cell-free fluid versus blood flow.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Fluid shear stress (SS) is known to regulate endothelial cell (EC) function. Most of the studies, however, focused on the effects of cell-free fluid-generated wall SS on ECs. The objective of this study was to investigate how changes in blood flow altered EC signalling and endothelial function directly through wall SS and indirectly through SS effects on red blood cells (RBCs).

Methods and results

Experiments were conducted in individually perfused rat venules. We experimentally induced changes in SS that were quantified by measured flow velocity and fluid viscosity. The concomitant changes in EC [Ca2+]i and nitric oxide (NO) were measured with fluorescent markers, and EC barrier function was assessed by fluorescent microsphere accumulation at EC junctions using confoca

SUBMITTER: Xu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5852521 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature