Endothelial Cell Morphometry of Atherosclerotic Lesions and Flow Profiles at Aortic Bifurcations in Cholesterol Fed Rabbits

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 301-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuji Okano ◽  
Yoji Yoshida

Observations on shapes of endothelial cells both in sudanophilic and nonsudanophilic regions at bifurcations of the brachiocephalic (BC) and left subclavian (SA) arteries in hyperlipidemic rabbits were performed under a SEM. The stagnation point of flow and leading edges of flow dividers were nonsudanophilic and covered by round and long fusiform endothelial cells, respectively. The hips of flow dividers of both branchings, proven to be relatively low shear stress regions, by movement of microspheres in steady flow, were sudanophilic and covered by ellipsoidal cells. Similar studies were carried out in normolipidemic rabbits. It might be concluded that lipid deposition in hyperlipidemic rabbits occurs in relatively low shear stress regions, where endothelial cells are functionally activated, rather than in laminar high shear stress regions at the flow divider.

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susumu Kudo ◽  
Ryuhei Yamaguchi ◽  
Masashi Sato ◽  
Kotaro Oka ◽  
Kazuo Tanishita

Abstract The purpose of this study is to reveal the albumin uptake into endothelial cells in the separated flow area. After 24 hr of exposure to flow induced in a back step flow channel, the endothelial cells were incubated in 37°C for 60 minutes in PBS containing tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate conjugated albumin (TRITC-albumin). Thereafter, the cell morphology and the albumin uptake were observed by a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). In a low shear stress area (stagnant and reattachment areas), the cells aligned randomly. In a high shear stress area (reversal and fully developed areas), the cells were elongated and aligned to flow direction. In low-shear-stress and high-shear-stress gradient areas (reattachment areas), the amount of albumin uptake into the cells was the largest in all areas. These data indicate that shear stress and shear stress gradient affect the endothelial cell morphology and the albumin uptake into endothelial cells.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (1) ◽  
pp. C362-C371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumathy Mohan ◽  
Koichi Koyoma ◽  
Amalraj Thangasamy ◽  
Hiroyasu Nakano ◽  
Randolph D. Glickman ◽  
...  

NF-κB signaling pathway has been known to play a major role in the pathological process of atherogenesis. Unlike high shear stress, in which the NF-κB activity is transient, our earlier studies have demonstrated a persistent activation of NF-κB in response to low shear stress in human aortic endothelial cells. These findings partially explained why low shear regions that exist at bifurcations of arteries are prone to atherosclerosis, unlike the relatively atheroprotective high shear regions. In the present study, we further investigated 1) the role of NF-κB signaling kinases (IKKα and β) that may be responsible for the sustained activation of NF-κB in low shear stress and 2) the regulation of these kinases by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our results demonstrate that not only is a significant proportion of low shear-induced-kinase activity is contributed by IKKβ, but it is also persistently induced for a prolonged time frame. The IKK activity (both α and β) is blocked by apocynin (400 μM), a specific NADPH oxidase inhibitor, and diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI; 10 μM), an inhibitor of flavin-containing oxidases like NADPH oxidases. Determination of ROS also demonstrated an increased generation in low shear stress that could be blocked by DPI. These results suggest that the source of ROS generation in endothelial cells in response to low shear stress is NADPH oxidase. The DPI-inhibitable component of ROS is the primary regulator of specific upstream kinases that determine the persistent NF-κB activation selectively in low shear-induced endothelial cells.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shruti Chatterjee ◽  
Marouane Kheloufi ◽  
Stephane M.I Mazlan ◽  
Xavier Loyer ◽  
Timothy A. McKinsey ◽  
...  

Atherosclerotic lesions preferentially develop in arterial areas exposed to low shear stress, where endothelial cells express a pro-inflammatory, apoptotic, and senescent phenotype. Autophagy is a lysosomal mechanism that recycles damaged organelles and protein aggregates to maintain cellular homeostasis. Stimulation of autophagy in high shear stress conditions is an atheroprotective process. Conversely, endothelial cells exposed to atheroprone low shear stress present a defective autophagic flux, which favors a pro-inflammatory phenotype and the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. Since an efficient autophagic flux is dependent on α-tubulin acetylation, which is reduced under low shear stress, we hypothesized that increasing α-tubulin acetylation could restore adequate levels of autophagy in endothelial cells exposed to low shear stress. We found that blocking Histone Deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) activity, either by pharmacological inhibition (Tubastatin-A) or genetic approaches (shHDAC6), raised levels of acetylated α-tubulin, as well as LC3-II/I ratio, LC3 punctae area and autophagic flux in cultured endothelial cells exposed to low shear stress. This effect was associated with a reduced expression of inflammatory markers (Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Vascular cell Adhesion Protein-1 (VCAM-1) and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1)) in Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α)-stimulated cells. We observed increased endothelial autophagic flux in the aortic arch of the HDAC6-/-/ApoE-/- mice. Subsequently, atherosclerotic plaque size was significantly reduced in the atheroprone areas of chimeric HDAC6-/-/ApoE-/- mice, transplanted with HDAC6+/+/ApoE-/- bone marrow, when compared to HDAC6+/+/ApoE-/- littermate controls. Taken together, these results indicate that targeting α-tubulin acetylation, via HDAC6-inhibition, may be an interesting strategy to restore endothelial autophagic flux and to promote an atheroprotective endothelial phenotype despite unfavorable shear stress conditions.


iScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 101653
Author(s):  
Caijuan Zhan ◽  
Gholamreza Bidkhori ◽  
Hubert Schwarz ◽  
Magdalena Malm ◽  
Aman Mebrahtu ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Alina G. van der Giessen ◽  
Jolanda J. Wentzel ◽  
Frans N. van de Vosse ◽  
Antonius F. van der Steen ◽  
Pim J. de Feyter ◽  
...  

It is generally accepted that early atherosclerosis develops in low shear-stress (SS) regions such as the outer wall of arterial bifurcations and the inner bend of curved vessels (1). However, in clinical practice, it is common to observe atherosclerotic plaques at the flow-divider, or carina, of coronary bifurcations (2). Plaques at the carina are more frequently found in symptomatic patients, and may represent a more advanced stage of atherosclerosis. The carina is located in a region which is exposed to high SS. We hypothesize that if plaques are located in atheroprotective high SS regions, they have grown circumferentially from the atherogenic low SS regions.


2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. S18-S19
Author(s):  
Dang Heng Wei ◽  
Gui Xue Wang ◽  
Yi Ping Xia ◽  
Jian Jun Lei ◽  
Lu Shang Liu ◽  
...  

Hypertension ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 672-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Branko Braam ◽  
Remmert de Roos ◽  
Hans Bluyssen ◽  
Patrick Kemmeren ◽  
Frank Holstege ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 245 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Jia ◽  
Lihua Wang ◽  
Fang Wei ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Zhe Wang ◽  
...  

Hemodynamic forces have an important role in venous intimal hyperplasia, which is the main cause of arteriovenous fistula dysfunction. Endothelial cells (ECs) constantly exposed to the shear stress of blood flow, converted the mechanical stimuli into intracellular signals, and interacted with the underlying vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Caveolin-1 is one of the important mechanoreceptors on cytomembrane, which is related to vascular abnormalities. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway is involved in the process of VSMCs proliferation and migration. In the present study, we explore the effects of Caveolin-1-ERK1/2 pathway and uremia toxins on the endothelial cells and VSMCs following shear stress application. Different shear stress was simulated with a ECs/VSMCs cocultured parallel-plate flow chamber system. Low shear stress and oscillating shear stress up-regulated the expression of fibroblast growth factor-4, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, vascular endothelial growth factor-A, ERK1/2 phosphorylation in endothelial cells, and proliferation and migration of VSMCs but down-regulated the Caveolin-1 expression in endothelial cells. Uremia toxin induces the proliferation and migration of VSMCs but not in a Caveolin-1-dependent manner in the static environment. Low shear stress-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs is inhibited by Caveolin-1 overexpression and ERK1/2 suppression. Shear stress-regulated VSMC proliferation and migration is an endothelial cells-dependent process. Low shear stress and oscillating shear stress exert atherosclerotic influences on endothelial cells and VSMCs. Low shear stress modulated proliferation and migration of VSMCs through Caveolin-1-ERK1/2 pathway, which suggested that Caveolin-1 and ERK1/2 can be used as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of arteriovenous fistula dysfunction. Impact statement Venous intimal hyperplasia is the leading cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) dysfunction. This article reports that shear stress-regulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation and migration is an endothelial cell (EC)-dependent process. Low shear stress (LSS) and oscillating shear stress (OSS) exert atherosclerotic influences on the ECs and VSMCs. LSS-induced proliferation and migration of VSMCs is inhibited by Caveolin-1 overexpression and extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) suppression, which suggested that Caveolin-1 and ERK1/2 can be used as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of AVF dysfunction.


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