Effect of hierarchy structure like native blood vessels on detachment of endothelial cells by shear stress

Endothelial cells line the walls of all blood vessels, where they maintain homeostasis through control of vascular tone, permeability, inflammation, and the growth and regression of blood vessels. Endothelial cells are mechanosensitive to fluid shear stress, elongating and aligning in the flow direction [1–2]. This shape change is driven by rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and focal adhesions [2]. Hyperglycemia, a hallmark of diabetes, affects endothelial cell function. High glucose has been shown to increase protein kinase C, formation of glucose-derived advanced glycation end-products, and glucose flux through the aldose reductase pathway within endothelial cells [3]. These changes are thought to be related to increased reactive oxygen species production [4]. While endothelial cell mechanics have been widely studied in healthy conditions, many disease states have yet to be explored. Biochemical alterations related to high glucose may alter endothelial cell mechanics.

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Adhesion of Candida albicans to Endothelial Cells under Physiological Conditions of Flow

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00518-09 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 77 (9) ◽

pp. 3872-3878 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Sarah E. W. Grubb ◽

Craig Murdoch ◽

Peter E. Sudbery ◽

Stephen P. Saville ◽

Jose L. Lopez-Ribot ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Shear Stress ◽

Candida Albicans ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Systemic Infection ◽

Multiple Organ ◽

Adhesion Assay ◽

Conflicting Evidence

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is a commensal organism that under certain circumstances can become pathogenic. During systemic infection C. albicans is disseminated via the circulation to distant organs, where it causes multiple organ failure. Despite the severity of systemic C. albicans infection, little is known about the mechanisms involved in the adhesion of this organism to the endothelium lining blood vessels. Previous studies have used static assays to examine adhesion. However, these do not realistically model blood vessels, where circulating C. albicans cells must adhere to the endothelium under conditions of flow and shear stress. Furthermore, there is conflicting evidence concerning the role played by yeast, pseudohyphal, and hyphal forms of C. albicans in adhesion to endothelium. To test the hypothesis that there may be differences in the abilities of these three morphogenic forms of C. albicans to adhere to endothelium under conditions of flow, we developed an in vitro flow adhesion assay. We found that all three forms of C. albicans rapidly bound to confluent endothelial cells under conditions of flow. Maximum adhesion was found at low shear stress levels similar to that found in postcapillary venules. Moreover, yeast forms bound in significantly greater numbers than did pseudohyphal and hyphal forms, respectively, contrasting with previous findings from static assays. These findings are consistent with recent in vivo data suggesting that yeast forms may be capable of adhering to the endothelium and migrating into the tissues before undergoing morphogenic change to cause tissue damage.

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Pulsation Activates Mechanosensitive Piezo1 to Form Long-Term Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-121948 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 445-445

Author(s):

Giorgia Scapin ◽

Dhvanit I Shah

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Shear Stress ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Circumferential Strain ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Dorsal Wall ◽

Ventral Wall ◽

Dnmt3b Expression

The temporal and spatial origin and development of long-term, self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSC) remain a mystery. The first set of definitive HSCs is born from the hemogenic endothelial cells residing in the ventral wall of the dorsal aorta (DA) of the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region during embryonic development. Blood flow- and shear-stress-mediated nitric oxide-induced vasodilation are responsible for the endothelial-to-HSC transition (EHT). However, it remains unknown why the ventral wall, and not the dorsal wall, of the DA is the restricted site of the EHT when blood flows through the entire DA and exerts shear stress on both the ventral and dorsal sides of the DA. Using single-particle tracking and fast Fourier Transform analyses of pulsating blood vessels, we demonstrate that the circumferential strain in the ventral wall, and not dorsal wall, is concurrent with and responsible for the magnitude, the site, and timing of the HSC formation. We extended our findings by developing a bioreactor to establish the functional link between pulsation in the blood vessels and HSC formation. Using serial transplant, limiting dilution, and serial replating assays, we found that pulsation mediated circumferential stretching of hemogenic endothelial cells or Piezo1 activation (Yoda1) yields 3-times higher amounts of Long Term (LT)-HSC formation; which reconstitute to normal multi-lineage adult blood. Using delayed-type hypersensitivity assay, adult globin expression, MPO enzyme activity, immunoglobulins, and T-cell receptor rearrangement analyses, we found that circumferential stretching or Piezo1 activation-derived HSCs reconstitute to functional T and B cells, adult erythrocytes, and myeloid cells. Our Piezo1fl/flxScl-Cre conditional knockout, gene-silencing, & confocal imaging further demonstrate that circumferential stretching of blood vessels activates Piezo1; which enhances epigenetic regulator Dnmt3b expression to stimulate the EHT. Our CUT&RUN CHIP-Sequencing & MASSArray methylation analyses demonstrate that Dnmt3b suppresses endothelial genes during EHT. To analyze the conserved role of PIEZO1-mediated mechanosensitive mechanisms in human hematopoiesis, we employed directed differentiation of constitutive RUNX1-mCherry human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to hemogenic endothelial cells. We found that Yoda1-mediated PIEZO1 activation stimulated human endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition. In conclusion, pulsation-mediated circumferential strain activates Piezo1 to stimulate the endothelial-to-HSC transition via the induction of Dnmt3b expression. This leads to the formation of long-term self-renewing HSCs, which can engraft and reconstitute to multi-lineage, adult blood upon serial transplantations. Our identification of a novel biomechanical cue unravels the physiological mystery in HSC formation in the ventral wall of the DA. We also establish its cross-talk with mechanosensitive and epigenetic mechanisms to produce functional, long-term HSCs that reconstitute to form normal adult blood. This yields the therapeutic promise of developing transgene-free LT-HSC-based cellular therapies for the treatment of human blood disorders. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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On the preservation of vessel bifurcations during flow-mediated angiogenic remodelling

10.1101/2020.02.07.938522 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lowell T. Edgar ◽

Claudio A. Franco ◽

Holger Gerhardt ◽

Miguel O. Bernabeu

Keyword(s):

Endothelial Cells ◽

Blood Flow ◽

Shear Stress ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Cell Number ◽

Stochastic Bifurcation ◽

Force Transmission ◽

Bifurcation Stability ◽

Vessel Network ◽

Insight Into

AbstractDuring developmental angiogenesis, endothelial cells respond to shear stress by migrating and remodelling the initially hyperbranched plexus, removing certain vessels whilst maintaining others. The key regulator of vessel preservation is cell decision behaviour at bifurcations. At flow-convergent bifurcations where migration paths diverge, cells must finely tune migration along both possible paths if the bifurcation is to persist. Experiments have demonstrated that disrupting the cells’ ability to sense shear or junction forces transmitted between cells impacts the preservation of bifurcations during the remodelling process. However, how these migratory cues integrate during cell decision making remains poorly understood. Therefore, we present the first agent-based model of endothelial cell flow-mediated migration suitable for interrogating the mechanisms behind bifurcation stability. The model simulates flow in a bifurcated vessel network composed of agents representing endothelial cells arranged into a lumen which migrate against flow. Upon approaching a bifurcation where more than one migration path exists, agents refer to a stochastic bifurcation rule which models the decision cells make as a combination of flow-based and collective-based migratory cues. With this rule, cells favour branches with relatively larger shear stress or cell number. We found that cells must integrate both cues nearly equally to maximise bifurcation stability. In simulations with stable bifurcations, we found competitive oscillations between flow and collective cues, and simulations that lost the bifurcation were unable to maintain these oscillations. The competition between these two cues is haemodynamic in origin, and demonstrates that a natural defence against bifurcation loss during remodelling exists: as vessel lumens narrow due to cell efflux, resistance to flow and shear stress increases, attracting new cells to enter and rescue the vessel from regression. Our work provides theoretical insight into the role of junction force transmission has in stabilising vasculature during remodelling and as an emergent mechanism to avoid functional shunting.Author SummaryWhen new blood vessels are created, the endothelial cells that make up these vessels migrate and rearrange in response to blood flow to remodel and optimise the vessel network. An essential part of this process is maintaining the branched structure of the network; however, it is unclear what cues cells consider at regions were vessels branch (i.e., bifurcations). In this research, we present a computer model of cell migration to interrogate the process of preserving bifurcations during remodelling. In this model, cells at bifurcations are influenced by both flow and force transmitted from neighbouring cells. We found that both cues (flow-based and collective-based) must be considered equally in order to preserve branching in the vessel network. In simulations with stable bifurcations, we demonstrated that these cues oscillate: a strong signal in one was accompanied by a weak signal in the other. Furthermore, we found that these cues naturally compete with each other due to the coupling between blood flow and the size of the blood vessels, i.e. larger vessels with more cells produce less flow signals and vice versa. Our research provides insight into how forces transmitted between neighbouring cells stabilises and preserves branching during remodelling, as well as implicates the disruption of this force transmission as a potential mechanism when remodelling goes wrong as in the case of vascular malformation.

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The molecular mechanism of mechanotransduction in vascular homeostasis and disease

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20190488 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 134 (17) ◽

pp. 2399-2418

Author(s):

Yoshito Yamashiro ◽

Hiromi Yanagisawa

Keyword(s):

Shear Stress ◽

Blood Vessels ◽

Vessel Wall ◽

Vascular Diseases ◽

Cell Interactions ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Cyclic Stretch ◽

Mechanical Stimuli ◽

Vascular Homeostasis ◽

Matrix Cell

Abstract Blood vessels are constantly exposed to mechanical stimuli such as shear stress due to flow and pulsatile stretch. The extracellular matrix maintains the structural integrity of the vessel wall and coordinates with a dynamic mechanical environment to provide cues to initiate intracellular signaling pathway(s), thereby changing cellular behaviors and functions. However, the precise role of matrix–cell interactions involved in mechanotransduction during vascular homeostasis and disease development remains to be fully determined. In this review, we introduce hemodynamics forces in blood vessels and the initial sensors of mechanical stimuli, including cell–cell junctional molecules, G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), multiple ion channels, and a variety of small GTPases. We then highlight the molecular mechanotransduction events in the vessel wall triggered by laminar shear stress (LSS) and disturbed shear stress (DSS) on vascular endothelial cells (ECs), and cyclic stretch in ECs and vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs)—both of which activate several key transcription factors. Finally, we provide a recent overview of matrix–cell interactions and mechanotransduction centered on fibronectin in ECs and thrombospondin-1 in SMCs. The results of this review suggest that abnormal mechanical cues or altered responses to mechanical stimuli in EC and SMCs serve as the molecular basis of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension and aortic aneurysms. Collecting evidence and advancing knowledge on the mechanotransduction in the vessel wall can lead to a new direction of therapeutic interventions for vascular diseases.

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Naturally Produced Extracellular Matrix Is an Excellent Substrate for Canine Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Resistance to Shear Stress on PTFE Vascular Grafts

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1665417 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 78 (05) ◽

pp. 1392-1398 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

A Schneider ◽

M Chandra ◽

G Lazarovici ◽

I Vlodavsky ◽

G Merin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Matrix ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Shear Stress ◽

Endothelial Cell ◽

Cell Attachment ◽

Thrombus Formation ◽

Endothelial Cell Proliferation ◽

Ptfe Graft ◽

Vascular Prostheses ◽

Endothelial Cell Attachment

SummaryPurpose: Successful development of a vascular prosthesis lined with endothelial cells (EC) may depend on the ability of the attached cells to resist shear forces after implantation. The present study was designed to investigate EC detachment from extracellular matrix (ECM) precoated vascular prostheses, caused by shear stress in vitro and to test the performance of these grafts in vivo. Methods: Bovine aortic endothelial cells were seeded inside untreated polytetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE) vascular graft (10 X 0.6 cm), PTFE graft precoated with fibronectin (FN), or PTFE precoated with FN and a naturally produced ECM (106 cells/graft). Sixteen hours after seeding the medium was replaced and unattached cells counted. The strength of endothelial cell attachment was evaluated by subjecting the grafts to a physiologic shear stress of 15 dynes/cm2 for 1 h. The detached cells were collected and quantitated. PTFE or EC preseeded ECM coated grafts were implanted in the common carotid arteries of dogs. Results: While little or no differences were found in the extent of endothelial cell attachment to the various grafts (79%, 87% and 94% of the cells attached to PTFE, FN precoated PTFE, or FN+ECM precoated PTFE, respectively), the number of cells retained after a shear stress was significanly increased on ECM coated PTFE (20%, 54% and 85% on PTFE, FN coated PTFE, and FN+ECM coated PTFE, respectively, p <0.01). Implantation experiments in dogs revealed a significant increase in EC coverage and a reduced incidence of thrombus formation on ECM coated grafts that were seeded with autologous saphenous vein endothelial cells prior to implantation. Conclusion: ECM coating significantly increased the strength of endothelial cell attachment to vascular prostheses subjected to shear stress. The presence of adhesive macromolecules and potent endothelial cell growth promoting factors may render the ECM a promising substrate for vascular prostheses.

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