Influence of TNF-α and biomechanical stress on endothelial anti- and prothrombotic genes

• Biomechanical stress modulates vascular tone, vascular remodelling and the spatial localisation of atherosclerotic plaques. Inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, regulate expression of genes that impair the function of endothelial cells. This study investigates the combinatory effect of different biomechanical stresses and TNF-α on the expression of endothelial anti- and prothrombotic genes. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to TNF-α and different levels of static/pulsatile tensile stress or shear stress. The response in endothelial cells to TNF-α was not modulated by tensile stress. However, shear stress was a more potent stimulus. Shear stress counteracted the cytokine-induced expression of VCAM-1, and the cytokine-suppressed expression of thrombomodulin and eNOS. Shear stress and TNF-α additively induced PAI-1, whereas shear stress blocked the cytokine effect on t-PA and u-PA. A flow profile characterized by high laminar shear stress seems to render the endothelial cell more resistant to inflammatory stress. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Hemostatic genes

HUVEC

Shear stress

Tensile stress

TNF-α

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)