Differences in placental capillary shear stress in fetal growth restriction may affect endothelial cell function and vascular network formation.

ABSTRACT: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5-10% of pregnancies, leading to clinically significant fetal morbidity and mortality. FGR placentae frequently exhibit poor vascular branching, but the mechanisms driving this are poorly understood. We hypothesize that vascular structural malformation at the organ level alters microvascular shear stress, impairing angiogenesis. A computational model of placental vasculature predicted elevated placental micro-vascular shear stress in FGR placentae (0.2 Pa in severe FGR vs 0.05 Pa in normal placentae). Endothelial cells cultured under predicted FGR shear stresses migrated significantly slower and with greater persistence than in shear stresses predicted in normal placentae. These cell behaviors suggest a dominance of vessel elongation over branching. T

SUBMITTER: Tun WM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6614400 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature