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Chandurkar MK, Mittal N, Royer-Weeden SP, Lehmann SD, Michels EB, Haarman SE, Severance SA, Rho Y, Han SJ. Transient low shear-stress preconditioning influences long-term endothelial traction and alignment under high shear flow. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H1180-H1192. [PMID: 38457352 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00067.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) within the vascular system encounter fluid shear stress (FSS). High, laminar FSS promotes vasodilation and anti-inflammatory responses, whereas low or disturbed FSS induces dysfunction and inflammation. However, the adaptation of endothelial cells (ECs) to dynamically changing FSS patterns remains underexplored. Here, by combining traction force microscopy with a custom flow chamber, we examined human umbilical vein endothelial cells adapting their traction during transitions from short-term low shear to long-term high shear stress. We discovered that the initial low FSS elevates the traction by only half of the amount in response to direct high FSS even after flow changes to high FSS. However, in the long term under high FSS, the flow started with low FSS triggers a substantial second rise in traction for over 10 h. In contrast, the flow started directly with high FSS results in a quick traction surge followed by a huge reduction below the baseline traction in <30 min. Importantly, we find that the orientation of traction vectors is steered by initial shear exposure. Using Granger causality analysis, we show that the traction that aligns in the flow direction under direct high FSS functionally causes cell alignment toward the flow direction. However, EC traction that orients perpendicular to the flow that starts with temporary low FSS functionally causes cell orientation perpendicular to the flow. Taken together, our findings elucidate the significant influence of initial short-term low FSS on lasting changes in endothelial traction that induces EC alignment.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In our study, we uncover that preconditioning with low shear stress yields enduring impacts on endothelial cell traction and orientation, persisting even after transitioning to high-shear conditions. Using Granger causality analysis, we demonstrate a functional link between the direction of cell traction and subsequent cellular alignment across varying shear environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohanish K Chandurkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Nikhil Mittal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Shaina P Royer-Weeden
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Steven D Lehmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Etienne B Michels
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Samuel E Haarman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Scott A Severance
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Yeonwoo Rho
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
| | - Sangyoon J Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Health Research Institute, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, United States
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2
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Luu RJ, Hoefler BC, Gard AL, Ritenour CR, Rogers MT, Kim ES, Coppeta JR, Cain BP, Isenberg BC, Azizgolshani H, Fajardo-Ramirez OR, García-Cardeña G, Lech MP, Tomlinson L, Charest JL, Williams C. Fibroblast activation in response to TGFβ1 is modulated by co-culture with endothelial cells in a vascular organ-on-chip platform. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1160851. [PMID: 37577751 PMCID: PMC10421749 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1160851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Tissue fibrosis is a major healthcare burden that affects various organs in the body for which no effective treatments exist. An underlying, emerging theme across organs and tissue types at early stages of fibrosis is the activation of pericytes and/or fibroblasts in the perivascular space. In hepatic tissue, it is well known that liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (EC) help maintain the quiescence of stellate cells, but whether this phenomenon holds true for other endothelial and perivascular cell types is not well studied. Methods: The goal of this work was to develop an organ-on-chip microvascular model to study the effect of EC co-culture on the activation of perivascular cells perturbed by the pro-fibrotic factor TGFβ1. A high-throughput microfluidic platform, PREDICT96, that was capable of imparting physiologically relevant fluid shear stress on the cultured endothelium was utilized. Results: We first studied the activation response of several perivascular cell types and selected a cell source, human dermal fibroblasts, that exhibited medium-level activation in response to TGFβ1. We also demonstrated that the PREDICT96 high flow pump triggered changes in select shear-responsive factors in human EC. We then found that the activation response of fibroblasts was significantly blunted in co-culture with EC compared to fibroblast mono-cultures. Subsequent studies with conditioned media demonstrated that EC-secreted factors play at least a partial role in suppressing the activation response. A Luminex panel and single cell RNA-sequencing study provided additional insight into potential EC-derived factors that could influence fibroblast activation. Conclusion: Overall, our findings showed that EC can reduce myofibroblast activation of perivascular cells in response to TGFβ1. Further exploration of EC-derived factors as potential therapeutic targets in fibrosis is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeccah J. Luu
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - B. Christopher Hoefler
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ashley L. Gard
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Miles T. Rogers
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Ernest S. Kim
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Jonathan R. Coppeta
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Brian P. Cain
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Brett C. Isenberg
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Hesham Azizgolshani
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Oscar R. Fajardo-Ramirez
- Laboratory for Systems Mechanobiology, Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Guillermo García-Cardeña
- Laboratory for Systems Mechanobiology, Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Joseph L. Charest
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Corin Williams
- Bioengineering Division, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States
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3
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Lowis C, Ramara Winaya A, Kumari P, Rivera CF, Vlahos J, Hermantara R, Pratama MY, Ramkhelawon B. Mechanosignals in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1021934. [PMID: 36698932 PMCID: PMC9868277 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1021934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cumulative evidence has shown that mechanical and frictional forces exert distinct effects in the multi-cellular aortic layers and play a significant role in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). These mechanical cues collectively trigger signaling cascades relying on mechanosensory cellular hubs that regulate vascular remodeling programs leading to the exaggerated degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), culminating in lethal aortic rupture. In this review, we provide an update and summarize the current understanding of the mechanotransduction networks in different cell types during AAA development. We focus on different mechanosensors and stressors that accumulate in the AAA sac and the mechanotransduction cascades that contribute to inflammation, oxidative stress, remodeling, and ECM degradation. We provide perspectives on manipulating this mechano-machinery as a new direction for future research in AAA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana Lowis
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Department of Biomedicine, Indonesia International Institute for Life-Sciences, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Aurellia Ramara Winaya
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Department of Biomedicine, Indonesia International Institute for Life-Sciences, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Puja Kumari
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Department of Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cristobal F. Rivera
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Department of Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - John Vlahos
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Department of Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rio Hermantara
- Department of Biomedicine, Indonesia International Institute for Life-Sciences, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Yogi Pratama
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Department of Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Muhammad Yogi Pratama,
| | - Bhama Ramkhelawon
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,Department of Cell Biology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Bhama Ramkhelawon,
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Li H, Zhou WY, Xia YY, Zhang JX. Endothelial Mechanosensors for Atheroprone and Atheroprotective Shear Stress Signals. J Inflamm Res 2022; 15:1771-1783. [PMID: 35300215 PMCID: PMC8923682 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s355158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cells (ECs), derived from the mesoderm, form a single layer of squamous cells that covers the inner surface of blood vessels. In addition to being regulated by chemical signals from the extracellular matrix (ECM) and blood, ECs are directly confronted to complex hemodynamic environment. These physical inputs are translated into biochemical signals, dictating multiple aspects of cell behaviour and destination, including growth, differentiation, migration, adhesion, death and survival. Mechanosensors are initial responders to changes in mechanical environments, and the overwhelming majority of them are located on the plasma membrane. Physical forces affect plasma membrane fluidity and change of protein complexes on plasma membrane, accompanied by altering intercellular connections, cell-ECM adhesion, deformation of the cytoskeleton, and consequently, transcriptional responses in shaping specific phenotypes. Among the diverse forces exerted on ECs, shear stress (SS), defined as tangential friction force exerted by blood flow, has been extensively studied, from mechanosensing to mechanotransduction, as well as corresponding phenotypes. However, the precise mechanosensors and signalling pathways that determine atheroprone and atheroprotective phenotypes of arteries remain unclear. Moreover, it is worth to mention that some established mechanosensors of atheroprotective SS, endothelial glycocalyx, for example, might be dismantled by atheroprone SS. Therefore, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on mechanosensors in ECs for SS signals. We emphasize how these ECs coordinate or differentially participate in phenotype regulation induced by atheroprone and atheroprotective SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Ying Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-Yuan Xia
- Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun-Xia Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210006, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Jun-Xia Zhang, Department of Cardiology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210006, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15366155682, Email
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Paracrine Shear-Stress-Dependent Signaling from Endothelial Cells Affects Downstream Endothelial Function and Inflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413300. [PMID: 34948110 PMCID: PMC8709076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), mainly ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, are the leading cause of global mortality and major contributors to disability worldwide. Despite their heterogeneity, almost all CVDs share a common feature: the endothelial dysfunction. This is defined as a loss of functionality in terms of anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic and vasodilatory abilities of endothelial cells (ECs). Endothelial function is greatly ensured by the mechanotransduction of shear forces, namely, endothelial wall shear stress (WSS). Low WSS is associated with endothelial dysfunction, representing the primary cause of atherosclerotic plaque formation and an important factor in plaque progression and remodeling. In this work, the role of factors released by ECs subjected to different magnitudes of shear stress driving the functionality of downstream endothelium has been evaluated. By means of a microfluidic system, HUVEC monolayers have been subjected to shear stress and the conditioned media collected to be used for the subsequent static culture. The results demonstrate that conditioned media retrieved from low shear stress experimental conditions (LSS-CM) induce the downregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression while upregulating peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) adhesion by means of higher levels of adhesion molecules such as E-selectin and ICAM-1. Moreover, LSS-CM demonstrated a significant angiogenic ability comparable to the inflammatory control media (TNFα-CM); thus, it is likely related to tissue suffering. We can therefore suggest that ECs stimulated at low shear stress (LSS) magnitudes are possibly involved in the paracrine induction of peripheral endothelial dysfunction, opening interesting insights into the pathogenetic mechanisms of coronary microvascular dysfunction.
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