Fluid shear stress induces upregulation of COX-2 and PGI2 release in endothelial cells via a pathway involving PECAM-1, PI3K, FAK, and p38.

Vascular endothelial cells play an important role in the regulation of vascular function in response to mechanical stimuli in both healthy and diseased states. Prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) is an important antiatherogenic prostanoid and vasodilator produced in endothelial cells through the action of the cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzymes COX-1 and COX-2. However, the mechanisms involved in sustained, shear-induced production of COX-2 and PGI2 have not been elucidated but are determined in the present study. We used cultured endothelial cells exposed to steady fluid shear stress (FSS) of 10 dyn/cm2 for 5 h to examine shear stress-induced induction of COX-2/PGI2 Our results demonstrate the relationship between the mechanosensor platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and the intracellular mechanoresponsive molecules phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 in the FSS induction of COX-2 expression and PGI2 release. Knockdown of PECAM-1 (small interference RNA) expression inhibited FSS-induced activation of α5ß1-integrin, upregulation of COX-2, and release of PGI2 in both bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, inhibition of the PI3K pathway (LY294002) substantially inhibited FSS activation of α5ß1-integrin, upregulation of COX-2 gene and protein expression, and release of PGI2 in BAECs. Inhibition of integrin-associated FAK (PF573228) and MAPK p38 (SB203580) also inhibited the shear-induced upregulation of COX-2. Finally, a PECAM-1-/- mouse model was characterized by reduced COX-2 immunostaining in the aorta and reduced plasma PGI2 levels compared with wild-type mice, as well as complete inhibition of acute flow-induced PGI2 release compared with wild-type animals.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study we determined the major mechanotransduction pathway by which blood flow-driven shear stress activates cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) release in endothelial cells. Our work has demonstrated for the first time that COX-2/PGI2 mechanotransduction is mediated by the mechanosensor platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1).

Improved agarose gel electrophoresis method and molecular mass calculation for high molecular mass hyaluronan.

The molecular mass of the polysaccharide hyaluronan (HA) is an important determinant of its biological activity and physicochemical properties. One method currently used for the analysis of the molecular mass distribution of an HA sample is gel electrophoresis. In the current work, an improved agarose gel electrophoresis method for analysis of high molecular mass HA is presented and validated. HA mobility in 0.5% agarose minigels was found to be linearly related to the logarithm of molecular mass in the range from approximately 200 to 6000 kDa. A sample load of 2.5 µg for polydisperse HA samples was employed. Densitometric scanning of stained gels allowed analysis of the range of molecular masses present in the sample as well as calculation of weight-average and number-average values. The method was validated for a polydisperse HA sample with a weight-average molecular mass of approximately 2000 kDa. Excellent agreement was found between the weight-average molecular mass determined by electrophoresis and that determined by rheological measurement of the solution viscosity. The revised method was then used to show that heating solutions of HA at 100°C, followed by various cooling procedures, had no effect on the HA molecular mass distribution.

Feasibility Study of a Multimodal, Cloud-Based, Diabetic Retinal Screening Program in a Workplace Environment.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of capturing and interpreting retinal images in a workplace environment using a multimodal, cloud-based, diabetic retinal screening program combined with electronic self-reported questionnaires. The burden of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other retinal conditions, healthcare utilization, and visual function were also assessed. Methods: A cross-sectional feasibility study was conducted at the Genentech, Inc., Campus Health Center. Eyes of participants were imaged using ultra-widefield (UWF) color fundus photography (CFP) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). A cloud-based platform was used for the automated, seamless transfer of images to a remote reading center for evaluation for DR and other retinal pathologies. Electronic surveys collected participants' self-reported medical histories, healthcare utilization, and visual function data. Results: Among 100 participants (mean age, 43.9 years; 44% male), 33% of them self-reported diabetes. Eye examinations within the past 12 months were reported by 71% of all participants (n = 71/100) and by 85% (n = 28/33) of those with self-reported diabetes. Among participants with complete screening images from both UWF-CFP and SD-OCT, 20% (n = 6/30) of those with self-reported diabetes and 8.5% (n = 5/59) of participants with no history of diabetes were unaware they had mild/moderate nonproliferative DR. Among all participants, 20% (20/100) had a retinal finding, on either UWF-CFP or SD-OCT, or both, which prompted a referral for further evaluation. Conclusions: A retinal screening program deployed via a secure, scalable, and interoperable cloud-based platform was feasible and conveniently integrated into the workplace. Translational Relevance: Cloud-based platforms could be used to promote a secure, scalable, and interoperable system for retinal screening in nontraditional environments.

Hydraulic Conductivity of Smooth Muscle Cell-Initiated Arterial Cocultures.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of arterial coculture conditions on the transport properties of several in vitro endothelial cell (EC)-smooth muscle cell (SMC)-porous filter constructs in which SMC were grown to confluence first and then EC were inoculated. This order of culturing simulates the environment of a blood vessel wall after endothelial layer damage due to stenting, vascular grafting or other vascular wall insult. For all coculture configurations examined, we observed that hydraulic conductivity (L(p)) values were significantly higher than predicted by a resistances-in-series (RIS) model accounting for the L(p) of EC and SMC measured separately. The greatest increases were observed when EC were plated directly on top of a confluent SMC layer without an intervening filter, presumably mediated by direct EC-SMC contacts that were observed under confocal microscopy. The results are the opposite of a previous study that showed L(p) was significantly reduced compared to an RIS model when EC were grown to confluency first. The physiological, pathophysiological and tissue engineering implications of these results are discussed.

Hydraulic conductivity of endothelial cell-initiated arterial cocultures.

This study describes cocultures of arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) and the influences of their heterotypic interactions on hydraulic conductivity (L p ), an important transport property. A unique feature of these cocultures is that ECs were first grown to confluence and then SMCs were inoculated. Bovine aortic smooth muscle cells and bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were cocultured on Transwell Permeable Supports, and then exposed to a pressure-driven transmural flow. L p across each culture was measured using a bubble tracking apparatus that determined water flux (J v ). Our results indicate that arterial L p is significantly modulated by EC-SMC proximity, and serum content in culture. The L p of cocultures was also compared to the predictions of a resistances-in-series model to distinguish the contributions of heterotypic interactions between SMCs and ECs. Conditions that lead to significantly reduced coculture L p , compared to BAEC monoculture controls, have been uncovered and the lowest L p in the literature for an in vitro system are reported. In addition, VE-cadherin immunostaining of intact BAEC monolayers in each culture configuration reveals that EC-SMC proximity on a porous membrane has a dramatic influence on EC morphology patterns. The cocultures with the lowest L p have ECs with significantly elongated morphology. Confocal imaging indicates that there are no direct EC-SMC contacts in coculture.