Effect of turbulent flow on adhesion molecules expression of vascular endothelial cells / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

Mechanical environment seems to be one of the most important surviving environment for vessel conduit and vascular endothelial cells(ECs), while adhesion is one of the most important physical characteristics of ECs. In this study, Flow chambers of steady laminar and turbulent flow are made and improved. Different flow-derived VCAM-1, ICAM-1 expressions are detected by laser confocal microscope. Spacial and temporal curves of the adhesion molecules are protracted. In laminar flow, expression of VCAM-1 is dramatically elevated, whereas the expression of ICAM-1 is transiently elevated and it immediately falls back to the baseline. In turbulent flow, expression of VCAM-1 declines, while expression of ICAM-1 slowly rises to a peak. These results indicate that such pathological flow field as turbulence exerts different influence on the adhesion of vascular ECs from laminar flow, and turbulence could be one of the most important reasons of the ECs structural and functional lesion.