The influence of TGF-β1 from ECs on SMC MMP-2 Production under Shear Stress in a Co-Culture Model

Abstract

In the present study, the author constructed an EC-SMC co-culture model with SMCs 3D cultured in a collagen gel, and SMCs phenotype was controlled into a contractile state. Then, different magnitudes of shear stress (SS) were applied to the co-culture model and the results showed that a high SS of 10 Pa could induce higher matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) productions from SMC in the co-culture model. As to understand ECs influence on SMC responses, TGF-β1 (Transforming growth factor beta 1) expression from ECs were suppressed by an SiRNA transfection method in the present study. Compared to different MMP-2 production levels under different SS in the normal co-culture model, SMCs showed same MMP-2 production level under all SS conditions in the co-culture model with transfected ECs. This result means that TGF-β1 expression from ECs could influence SMCs response to SS in a co-culture model.