Elongation of Confluent Endothelial Cells in Culture: The Importance of Fields of Force in the Associated Alterations of Their Cytoskeletal Structure

Reduction of renal mass is lethal in mice lacking vimentin. Role of endothelin-nitric oxide imbalance.

“…Along the same line, actin filament disruption resulted in changes of stretch-activated ion channel activity (42). The involvement of vimentin in mechanotransduction has not been investigated previously, although a rearrangement of vimentin filaments in endothelial cells subjected to mechanical stress (5), including shear stress (5,12), has been reported. In this study, we demonstrated that vimentin is involved in the mechanotransmission and/or mechanotransduction of shear and tensile stress.…”

“…The vascular response to chemical or mechanical stimuli in terms of constriction or dilation is an integrative phenomenon that requires participation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and involves cytoskeleton elements among which intermediate filament proteins play a central role (1)(2)(3)(4). The prominent reorganization of F-actin stress fibers, intermediate filaments, and microtubules to external forces (flow and/or pressure) implicates the cytoskeleton as a principal force transmission element in endothelial cells (5)(6)(7). Furthermore, the observation that filament disruption changes endothelial cell synthesis of bioactive molecules, such as endothelin-1 (ET-1), 1 nitric oxide (NO), or prostaglandins, argues in favor of a role of cytoskeleton in signal transduction (1).…”

“…This expression pattern suggests that vimentin should participate in the regulation of vascular tone. Indeed, it has been reported that mechanical stresses induce reorganization of vimentin filaments in endothelial cells (5,12), whereas hormones, such as ET-1 and angiotensin II, induce vimentin protein phosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells (13). However, the role of vimentin in vascular responses remains to be elucidated.…”

Altered Flow–Induced Arterial Remodeling in Vimentin-Deficient Mice

“…18 These responses involve the endothelial cytoskeleton and its connections to the basement membrane and extracellular matrix. 19,20 The intermediate filament protein vimentin, which is an integral part of the cytoskeleton in vascular endothelium, 21 may play a role in these responses. 23, 24 We now demonstrate that the absence of vimentin results in modified structural responses of the mouse carotid artery to chronically altered BF.…”

“…18 The endothelial cytoskeleton and its anchoring to the extracellular matrix have been suggested to play a key role in these responses. 19,20 The intermediate filament protein vimentin is a component of the cytoskeleton of vascular endothelial cells. 21 Vimentindeficient mice (VϪ/Ϫ) 22 exhibit a blunted, acute, flowinduced arterial vasodilatation 23,24 and an altered balance between endothelin-1 and nitric oxide (NO), 2 endotheliumderived vasoactive factors that may also be involved in arterial remodeling.…”