Abstract
Introduction. Hemodynamic factors play crucial roles in vascular development, remodeling, healing, and lesion formation. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that shear stress could affect endothelial cell differentiation. Methods. A mouse emoryo mesenchymal progenitor cell line (C3H/10T1/2) was cultured under shear stress (15 dyn/cm 2) for 0, 6, and 12 h. Expression of specific endothelial cell markers as well as a monocyte marker CD14 was determined by real-time PCR, flow cytometry, and fluorescence immunostaining. In addition, the change of cell morphology and the ability of acetylated LDL uptake were also investigated. Results. Under shear stress, CH3/10T1/2 cells showed a morphology change of lining up with the direction of flow. The mRNR levels of CD31, vWF, and VE-cadherin were increased by 757-, 108-, and 23-fold, respectively, in shear stress group as compared to static control group ( P < 0.01). VEGFR-1 mRNA levels were also increased by 41% in shear stress group ( P < 0.01). The flow cytometry study showed that shear stress increased CD31- and vWF-positive cells by 11- and 214-fold, respectively, as compared to controls ( P < 0.01). However, CD14 mRNA was decreased by 74% in shear stress group as compared to controls ( P < 0.01). In addition, the acetylated LDL uptake was increased by 10-fold in shear stress group as compared to controls ( P < 0.01). All gene changes were also demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining. Conclusion. This is the first study to demonstrate that shear stress significantly induces expression of several endothelial cell markers at both mRNA and protein levels in a mouse emoryo mesenchymal progenitor cell line. In addition, shear stress changes cell morphology and increases the ability of acetylated LDL uptake. However, monocyte marker CD14 was significantly decreased after shear stress stimulation. This study suggests a novel mechanism of endothelial cell differentiation.
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