Bidirectional Oscillatory Shear Stress Increases Pro-Atherogenic Gene Expressions (I-CAM1, E-Selectin and IL-6) in Endothelial Cells

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amlan Chakraborty ◽  
Venkatakrishna R. Jala ◽  
Sutirtha Chakraborty ◽  
R. Eric Berson ◽  
M. Keith Sharp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Atherosclerotic Plaque ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Leukotriene B4 ◽  
Oscillatory Shear ◽  
Gene Expressions

Wall shear stress (WSS) plays a key role in altering intracellular pathways and gene expression of endothelial cells, and has significant impacts on atherosclerotic plaque development (1–3). Further, the atherogenic regulators Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have significant impacts on the pathophysiology of many inflammatory diseases. This study investigates the effects of oscillatory shear directionality on pro-atherogenic gene expression (I-CAM, E-Selectin, and IL-6) in the presence of LTB4 and LPS. An orbital shaker was used to expose the endothelial cells to oscillatory shear in culture dishes, and Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was applied to quantify the shear stress on the bottom of the orbiting dish. Directionality of oscillatory shear was characterized by a newly developed hemodynamic parameter — Directional oscillatory shear index (DOSI), which was demonstrated in a previous study to significantly impact cell morphology (4). Results showed that DOSI significantly altered gene expression. Therefore, directionality of shear modulates atherosclerotic gene expression in vitro and thus, may influence the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in vivo.

Abstract 41: Explant-Derived Cells from Chronic Heart Failure Activated Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Attenuated Pluripotency Genes Expression

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liudmila Zakharova ◽  
Hikmet Nural ◽  
Mohamed A Gaballa
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cell Outgrowth ◽  
Pluripotency Genes

Cardiac progenitor cells are generated from atria explants; however the cellular origin and the mechanisms of cell outgrowth are unclear. Using transgenic tamoxifen-induced Willms tumor 1 (Wt1)-Cre/ERT and Cre-activated GFP reporter mice, we found approximately 40% of explant-derived cells and 74% of explant-derived c-Kit+ cells originated from the epicardium. In atria from sham hearts, Wt1+ cells were located in a thin epicardial layer, while c-Kit+ cells were primarily found within both the sub-epicardium and the myocardium, albeit at low frequency. No overlap between c-Kit+ and Wt1+ cells was observed, suggesting that epicardial Wt1+ cells do not express c-Kit marker in vivo, but more likely the c-Kit marker was acquired in culture. Compared with 4 days in culture, at day 21 we observed 7 folds increase in Snail gene expression; 32% increase in α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) marker, and 30% decrease in E-cadherin marker, suggesting that the explant-derived cells underwent epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro. Cell outgrowths released TGF-β (1036.4 ± 1.18 pm/ml) and exhibited active TGF-β signaling, which might triggered the EMT. Compared to shams, CHF cell outgrowths exhibited elevated levels of EMT markers, SMA (49% vs. 34%) and Snail (2 folds), and reduced level of Wt1 (11% vs. 22%). In addition, CHF cell outgrowths had two folds increase in Pai1 gene expression, a direct target of TGF-β signaling. In c-Kit+ cells derived from CHF explants, Nanog gene expression was 4 folds lower and Sox 2 was 2 folds lower compared with cells from shams. Suppression of EMT in cell outgrowth increased the percentage of c-Kit+ and Wt1+ cells by 17%, and 15%, respectively. Also suppression of EMT in c-Kit+ cells resulted in 4 folds increase in Nanog and 3 fold increase in Sox2 gene expressions. Our results showed that CHF may further exuberates EMT while diminishes the re-activation of pluripotency genes. Thus, EMT modulation in CHF is a possible strategy to regulate both the yield and the pluripotency of cardiac-explant-derived progenitor cells.

Shear Stress Modulates the Expression of Thrombospondin-1 and CD36 in Endothelial Cells in vitro and during Shear Stress-Induced Angiogenesis in vivo

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 205873920601900 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Bongrazio ◽  
L. DA Silva-Azevedo ◽  
E.C. Bergmann ◽  
O. Baum ◽  
B. Hinz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Western Blot ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Vascular Networks ◽  
Thrombospondin 1 ◽  
Matrix Bound ◽  
Stress Dependent

Binding of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) to the CD36 receptor inhibits angiogenesis and induces apoptosis in endothelial cells (EC). Conversely, matrix-bound TSP-1 supports vessel formation. In this study we analyzed the shear stress-dependent expression of TSP-1 and CD36 in endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo to reveal its putative role in the blood flow-induced remodelling of vascular networks. Shear stress was applied to EC using a cone-and-plate apparatus and gene expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, Northern and Western blot. Angiogenesis in skeletal muscles of prazosin-fed (50 mg/1 drinking water; 4 d) mice was assessed by measuring capillary-to-fiber (C/F) ratios. Protein expression in whole muscle homogenates (WMH) or BS-1 lectin-enriched EC fractions (ECF) was analyzed by Western blot. Shear stress down-regulated TSP-1 and CD36 expression in vitro in a force- and time-dependent manner sustained for at least 72 h and reversible by restoration of no-flow conditions. In vivo, shear stress-driven increase of C/F in prazosin-fed mice was associated with reduced expression of TSP-1 and CD36 in ECF, while TSP-1 expression in WMH was increased. Down-regulation of endothelial TSP-1/CD36 by shear stress suggests a mechanism for inhibition of apoptosis in perfused vessels and pruning in the absence of flow. The increase of extra-endothelial (e.g. matrix-bound) TSP-1 could support a splitting type of vessel growth.

Inflammatory Response of Endothelial Cells to Wall Shear Stress in Three Dimensional Stenotic Models

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Rouleau ◽  
Joanna Rossi ◽  
Jean-Claude Tardif ◽  
Rosaire Mongrain ◽  
Richard L. Leask
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Wall Shear Stress ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Realistic Model ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Steady Flows ◽  
Wall Shear

Endothelial cells (ECs) are believed to respond differentially to hemodynamic forces in the vascular tree. Once atherosclerotic plaque has formed in a vessel, the obstruction creates complex spatial gradients in wall shear stress (WSS). In vitro models have used mostly unrealistic and simplified geometries, which cannot reproduce accurately physiological conditions. The objective of this study was to expose ECs to the complex WSS pattern created by an asymmetric stenosis. Endothelial cells were grown and exposed for different times to physiological steady flows in straight dynamic controls and in idealized asymmetric stenosis models. Cell morphology was noticeably different in the regions with spatial WSS gradients, being more randomly oriented and of cobblestone shape. Inflammatory molecule expression was also altered by exposure to shear and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was upregulated by its presence. A regional response in terms of inflammation was observed through confocal microscopy. This work provides a more realistic model to study endothelial cell response to spatial and temporal WSS gradients that are present in vivo and is an important advancement towards a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in coronary artery disease.

Non-Invasive Molecular Imaging of Shear Stress-Induced Endothelial Activation and Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Van der Heiden ◽  
H. C. Groen ◽  
P. C. Evans ◽  
L. Speelman ◽  
F. Gijsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Atherosclerotic Lesion ◽  
Oscillatory Shear ◽  
Lesion Development ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Oscillatory Shear Stress ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Atherosclerotic Lesion Development

Atherosclerosis is a lipid- and inflammation driven disease of the larger arteries and is found at specific locations in the arterial tree, i.e. at branches and bends where endothelial cells are exposed to low and low, oscillatory shear stress. Shear stress, the frictional force acting on the endothelial cells as a result of the blood flow, affects endothelial physiology. It determines the location of atherosclerotic lesion development as low and low, oscillatory shear stress induce pro-inflammatory transcription factors but reduce expression and/or activity of anti-inflammatory transcription factors in endothelial cells, rendering the vascular wall vulnerable for inflammation. Consequently, in the presence of atherosclerotic risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, atherosclerotic lesion development can occur. Although the relationship between low and low, oscillatory shear stress and the prevalence of atherosclerosis has been recognized for several decades, insight into the mechanisms underlying this relationship is still incomplete. The correlation between shear stress and endothelial inflammation was demonstrated by in vitro experiments, in which cultured endothelial cells were exposed to specific flow profiles, and confirmed in vivo by gene expression pattern studies at atherosclerosis-susceptible sites. However, the relationship was not substantiated by direct causal in vivo evidence. Therefore, we developed a method to change the local shear stress field in mice in vivo and studied its effect on the endothelial molecular pathways and resulting atherosclerotic plaque formation. Moreover it allowed us to develop non-invasive molecular imaging strategies to detect vulnerable plaques.

Endothelial Cell Morphologic Response to Asymmetric Stenosis Hemodynamics: Effects of Spatial Wall Shear Stress Gradients

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonie Rouleau ◽  
Monica Farcas ◽  
Jean-Claude Tardif ◽  
Rosaire Mongrain ◽  
Richard L. Leask
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Wall Shear Stress ◽  
Atherosclerotic Plaque ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Stress Gradients ◽  
Spatial Gradients ◽  
Wall Shear

Endothelial cells are known to respond to hemodynamic forces. Their phenotype has been suggested to differ between atheroprone and atheroprotective regions of the vasculature, which are characterized by the local hemodynamic environment. Once an atherosclerotic plaque has formed in a vessel, the obstruction creates complex spatial gradients in wall shear stress. Endothelial cell response to wall shear stress may be linked to the stability of coronary plaques. Unfortunately, in vitro studies of the endothelial cell involvement in plaque stability have been limited by unrealistic and simplified geometries, which cannot reproduce accurately the hemodynamics created by a coronary stenosis. Hence, in an attempt to better replicate the spatial wall shear stress gradient patterns in an atherosclerotic region, a three dimensional asymmetric stenosis model was created. Human abdominal aortic endothelial cells were exposed to steady flow (Re=50, 100, and 200 and τ=4.5 dyn/cm2, 9 dyn/cm2, and 18 dyn/cm2) in idealized 50% asymmetric stenosis and straight/tubular in vitro models. Local morphological changes that occur due to magnitude, duration, and spatial gradients were quantified to identify differences in cell response. In the one dimensional flow regions, where flow is fully developed and uniform wall shear stress is observed, cells aligned in flow direction and had a spindlelike shape when compared with static controls. Morphological changes were progressive and a function of time and magnitude in these regions. Cells were more randomly oriented and had a more cobblestone shape in regions of spatial wall shear stress gradients. These regions were present, both proximal and distal, at the stenosis and on the wall opposite to the stenosis. The response of endothelial cells to spatial wall shear stress gradients both in regions of acceleration and deceleration and without flow recirculation has not been previously reported. This study shows the dependence of endothelial cell morphology on spatial wall shear stress gradients and demonstrates that care must be taken to account for altered phenotype due to geometric features. These results may help explain plaque stability, as cells in shoulder regions near an atherosclerotic plaque had a cobblestone morphology indicating that they may be more permeable to subendothelial transport and express prothrombotic factors, which would increase the risk of atherothrombosis.

scholarly journals Candida albicans RIM101 pH Response Pathway Is Required for Host-Pathogen Interactions

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 5953-5959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Davis ◽  
John E. Edwards ◽  
Aaron P. Mitchell ◽  
Ashraf S. Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Marked Reduction ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Systemic Candidiasis ◽  
Ph Response

ABSTRACT The ability of Candida albicans to respond to diverse environments is critical for its success as a pathogen. TheRIM101 pathway controls gene expression and the yeast-to-hyphal transition in C. albicans in response to changes in environmental pH in vitro. In this study, we found that theRIM101 pathway is necessary in vivo for pathogenesis. First, we show thatrim101−/rim101− andrim8−/rim8− mutants have a significant reduction in virulence using the mouse model of hematogenously disseminated systemic candidiasis. Second, these mutants show a marked reduction in kidney pathology. Third, therim101−/rim101− andrim8−/rim8− mutants show defects in the ability to damage endothelial cells in situ. Finally, we show that an activated allele of RIM101, RIM101-405, is a suppressor of the rim8− mutation in vivo as it rescues the virulence, histological, and endothelial damage defects of the rim8−/rim8− mutant. These results demonstrate that the RIM101 pathway is required for C. albicans virulence in vivo and that the function of Rim8p in pathogenesis is to activate Rim101p.

The Effects of Shear Stress on Endothelial Cells at Hypothermic Temperatures

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Slater ◽  
Shailendra Jain ◽  
Robin N. Coger ◽  
Charles Y. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Shear Stresses ◽  
Liver Sinusoids ◽  
Endothelial Cell Cultures ◽  
Shear Stress Response

Hypothermic machine perfusion preservation (MPP) has proven to be a successful technique for hypothermic kidney storage, however this technology has not successfully been applied to the liver. Recent research has indicated that the endothelial cells lining the liver sinusoids display rounding phenomena during MPP that is not fully understood. In order to gain a better understanding of endothelial cell shear stress response and the factors that induce rounding, a temperature-controlled micro-shear chamber has been designed and fabricated. The micro-shear chamber has been used to apply shear stresses, corresponding to those imposed during MPP, to rat liver primary endothelial cell cultures in order to form an understanding of how these stresses affect endothelial cell morphology. The chamber allows for the application of shear stresses ranging from 0.2 ± .01 dynes/cm2 to 2.3 ± 0.3 dynes/cm2, corresponding to what occurs during MPP.] Twenty-four hour in vitro experiments with shear stresses ranging from 0 to 1.49 dynes/cm2 at 4 °C were conducted in order to replicate in vivo conditions of the liver during hypothermic MPP. It has been demonstrated that endothelial cell rounding increases with increasing shear and can be prevented by utilizing low flow rates.

Tissue Factor Activity Is Upregulated in Human Endothelial Cells Exposed to Oscillatory Shear Stress

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (06) ◽  
pp. 1062-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Silacci ◽  
Karima Bouzourene ◽  
François Daniel ◽  
Hans Brunner ◽  
Daniel Hayoz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Shear Stress ◽  
Protein Expression ◽  
Tissue Factor ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Oscillatory Shear ◽  
Human Endothelial Cells ◽  
Static Conditions ◽  
Oscillatory Shear Stress

SummaryHemodynamic forces play a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis as evidenced by the focal nature of the disease. Oscillatory shear stress characterizes the hemodynamic environment of plaque-prone areas as opposed to unidirectional shear stress typical of plaque-free areas. These particular flow conditions modulate atherosclerosis-related genes. Tissue factor (TF) initiates blood coagulation, contributes to vascular remodeling, and is therefore a potential contributor in the development/progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effect of oscillatory and unidirectional flows on TF using an in vitro perfusion system. Human endothelial cells exposed for 24 h to oscillatory shear stress, significantly increased TF mRNA, and TF protein expression (1.5-and 1.75-fold, respectively, p <0.01), and surface TF activity (twofolds-increase). Expression of TF inhibitor (TFPI), mRNA and protein, remained unchanged as compared to static conditions. Conversely, cells exposed to unidirectional shear, showed a decrease in TF activity with a significant increase in TFPI mRNA and protein expression (1.5-and 1.8-fold, respectively, p <0.01). These results show for the first time that pulsatile oscillatory shear stress induces a procoagulant phenotype of endothelial cells which may favor formation/progression of atherothrombotic lesions.

scholarly journals Dephosphorylation Targets Bcl-2 for Ubiquitin-dependent Degradation: A Link between the Apoptosome and the Proteasome Pathway

1999 ◽  
Vol 189 (11) ◽  
pp. 1815-1822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Dimmeler ◽  
Kristin Breitschopf ◽  
Judith Haendeler ◽  
Andreas M. Zeiher
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Map Kinase ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Apoptotic Cell ◽  
Proteasome Inhibitors ◽  
Inhibitory Function ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Proteasome Pathway

Injury of the endothelial cells by the induction of apoptotic cell death may play an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and the progression of inflammatory diseases. Here, we demonstrate an essential role for the ubiquitin-dependent proteasome complex in stimulus-induced degradation of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Bcl-2 is specifically degraded after stimulation of human endothelial cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a process that is inhibited by specific proteasome inhibitors. In addition, the mutation of the potential ubiquitin-acceptor amino acids of Bcl-2 provides protection against TNF-α– and staurosporine-induced degradation in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, mimicking phosphorylation of the putative mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase sites of the Bcl-2 protein (Thr 56, Thr 74, and Ser 87) abolishes its degradation, suggesting a link between the MAP kinase pathway to the proteasome pathway. Finally, inhibition of Bcl-2 degradation either by suppressing ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation or by mimicking continuous phosphorylation of the putative MAP kinase sites in the Bcl-2 protein confers resistance against induction of apoptosis. Thus, the degradation of Bcl-2 may unleash the inhibitory function of Bcl-2 over the apoptosome and may thereby amplify the activation of the caspase cascade.

TRAF-1 Deficient Mice Show Impaired Monocyte Recruitment and Decreased Atherogenesis

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 696-696
Author(s):  
Anna Missiou ◽  
Natascha Köstlin ◽  
Christian Münkel ◽  
Dietmar Pfeifer ◽  
Katja Zirlik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Chemokine Receptors ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Adaptor Proteins ◽  
High Cholesterol Diet ◽  
Cell Content ◽  
Monocyte Recruitment

Abstract Members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) interleukin/toll-like receptor superfamily such as CD40L, TNFa, and IL-1b potently promote atherogenesis in mice and likely also in humans. TNF receptor associated factors (TRAFs) are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins for this group of cytokines. We recently reported over-expression of TRAFs in murine and human atheromata and demonstrated dependency of classic inflammatory functions on TRAFs in endothelial cells and macrophages. Here we test the hypothesis that TRAF-1 modulates atherogenesis in vivo. TRAF-1--/LDLR--mice fed a high cholesterol diet for 18 weeks developed significantly smaller atherosclerotic lesions compared with LDLR--controls. Intimal lesion size decreased by up to 56±6% and 33±5% in sections of the aortic arch and aortic root, respectively (n>10 per group, P<0.01 each). Plaques of TRAF-1-deficient animals contained up to 46±9% and 55±4% fewer macrophages while smooth muscle cell content increased by up to 32±6 and 36±7%, characteristics associated with non disrupted plaques in humans. Lipid content, collagen content, and lymphocyte content remained unchanged. In vitro, gene expression profiling revealed reduced expression of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1), chemokines (CCL2, CXCL2), and growth factors (M-CSF) in TRAF-1-deficient endothelial cells as well as of integrins (CD29, CD11b) and chemokines/chemokine receptors (CXCL2, CCR1) in TRAF-1-deficient macrophages, verified by siRNA studies in human cells. Finally, both deficiency of TRAF-1 in endothelial cells and neutrophils/monocytes reduced adhesion of inflammatory cells to the endothelium in static and dynamic adhesion assays. We present the novel finding that TRAF 1 deficiency attenuates atherogenesis in mice, an effect most likely mediated by impaired monocyte recruitment to the vessel wall. These data identify TRAF-1 as potential treatment target for chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.

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