Expression of Heat Shock Protein 70 in Vein Endothelial Cells Induced by Shear Stress

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Endothelial cells (ECs) are exposed to continuous shear stress due to the blood flow. Heat shock protein (hsp) 70 is a well-known stress-response protein. The objective of this study is to investigate the expression of hsp70 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by shear stress. METHOD: The pattern of hsp70 was investigated by the in vitro laminar flow system and its image was analyzed by PV-WAVE software program. The image of heat shock-induced hsp70 expression was analyzed and compared with that of shear stress-induced hsp70 expression. RESULT: Under the condition of shear stress produced by flow, the ECs change their morphology and lineup along the flow direction. As to expression of flow stress-induced hsp70, it was accumulated in perinuclear region of endothelial cells, which is different from heat shock-induced hsp70 exression. CONCLUSION: ECs alignment along the direction of the flow shear stress and changes their phenotype are due to the remodeling of the actin microfilaments. Perinuclear expression of hsp70 may play an important roles in this shear stress induced remodeling response.