Behavior of Cell Under Wall Shear Stress in Flow Field: Comparison Among Cell Types

Abstract

Abstract Does the hysteresis effect remain in each cell after division? In the present study, the cell activity has been investigated after division under a shear stress field. To apply the constant shear stress field on cells, a Couette type flow device has been manufactured: between parallel walls (a lower stationary culture disk, and an upper rotating disk) with a constant gap. The wall shear stress was controlled by the rotating speed of the upper disk. Four types of cells were used in the test: C2C12 (mouse myoblast cell line), HUVEC (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells), 3T3-L1 (mouse fat precursor cells), and L929 (mouse fibroblast connective tissue). After cultivation without flow for 24 hours for adhesion of cells on the lower plate, the shear stress of 1 Pa was continuously applied on cells for 7 days at 310 K. The behavior (alignment and deformation) of each cell was traced at the time lapse image observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope placed in an incubator. The experimental results show the following behavior of each type of cell: C2C12 tends to return to the same direction as that of before division. Deformed 3T3-L1 tends to tilt to the flow direction.