Remodeling of Vascular Endothelial Cells Exposed to Mechanical Stimuli

Abstract

Morphology and local mechanical properties of sheared endothelial cells were measured by using atomic force microscope. After applying a steady shear stress of 2 Pa for 6 hours, bovine aortic endothelial cells showed marked elongation and aligned in the flow direction. The peak cell height decreased significantly with exposure to fluid flow. The fluorescent images showed that control cells exhibited dense peripheral bands of F-actin filaments, while sheared cells exhibited F-actin stress fibers which were thick and centrally located parallel to the flow direction. Elastic modulus estimated by the Hertz model significantly increased with fluid shear stress. Change in mechanical properties might be closely correlated to the development of cytoskeletal structure.