Shear Stress Responses of Adult Blood Outgrowth Endothelial Cells Seeded on Bioartificial Tissue

Abstract

Human blood outgrowth endothelial cells (HBOECs) are expanded from circulating endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood and thus could provide a source of autologous endothelial cells for tissue-engineered vascular grafts. To examine the suitability of adult HBOECs for use in vascular tissue engineering, the shear stress responsiveness of these cells was examined on bioartificial tissue formed from dermal fibroblasts entrapped in tubular fibrin gels. HBOECs adhered to this surface, deposited collagen IV and laminin, and remained adherent when exposed to 15 dyn/cm(2) shear stress for 24 h. The shear stress responses of HBOECs were compared to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). As with HUVECs, HBOECs upregulated vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 when exposed to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and shear stress decreased the expression of these adhesion molecules on TNF-α-activated monolayers. Nitric oxide production was elevated by shear stress, but did not vary between cell types. Both cell types decreased platelet adhesion to the bioartificial tissue, whereas pre-exposing the cells to flow decreased platelet adhesion further. These results illustrate the potential utility for HBOECs in vascular tissue engineering, as not only do the cells adhere to bioartificial tissue and remain adherent under physiological shear stress, they are also responsive to shear stress signaling.

Endothelial colony-forming cells show a mature transcriptional response to shear stress

“…Note that the scale of the y-axis differs between the genes of interest. Ahmann et al 2011). ECFC were subjected to fluid shear stress in vitro, and their response was compared to that of HUVEC and HUAEC.…”

Effect of cellular senescence on the albumin permeability of blood-derived endothelial cells

“…ECs derived from late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in human umbilical cord or adult blood represent a promising source of the endothelium for applications in regenerative medicine (1,7,8). These cells express many of the molecular markers found on the large-vessel endothelium (7,28,30) and respond to flow in the same manner as the large vessel endothelium (1,7).…”

“…These cells express many of the molecular markers found on the large-vessel endothelium (7,28,30) and respond to flow in the same manner as the large vessel endothelium (1,7). ECs that possess the high proliferative potential of late outgrowth EPCs can be isolated from the arterial endothelium (29).…”

Regeneration of the Vascular System

“…This includes factors such as endothelial nitric oxide synthase, prostaglandin 1 [141], thrombomodulin, and tissue-type plasminogen activator [142,143]. The effect of shear was observed in different types of endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells [144]. On the other hand, turbulent flow may lead to plaque formation [145].…”