ABSTRACT: Expression profile of human lymphatic endothelial cells under static or oscillatory shear stress conditions in the presence or absence of FOXC2
Project description:Lymphatic valves are specialized units regularly distributed along collecting vessels that allow unidirectional forward propulsion of the lymph, and its efficient transport from tissues to the bloodstream. Lymphatic endothelial cells that cover lymphatic valve sinuses are subjected to complex flow patterns, due to recirculation of the lymph during the collecting vessel pumping cycle. They also express high levels of FOXC2 transcription factor. We used microarrays to study the transcriptional networks controlled by FOXC2 in human lymphatic endothelial cells subjected to oscillatory shear stress or cultured under static conditions. Human lymphatic endothelial cells were transfected with control or FOXC2 siRNAs and subjected to 24-hour oscillatory shear stress (1 dyn/cm2; 1/4 Hz) or kept under static conditions as a control. RNA were amplified and hybridized on Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 ST Arrays. The experiment was run twice independently, using each time a different siRNA to knockdown FOXC2, as previously described (Sabine et al, 2012, Dev Cell).
Project description:Lymphatic valves are specialized units regularly distributed along collecting vessels that allow unidirectional forward propulsion of the lymph, and its efficient transport from tissues to the bloodstream. Lymphatic endothelial cells that cover lymphatic valve sinuses are subjected to complex flow patterns, due to recirculation of the lymph during the collecting vessel pumping cycle. They also express high levels of FOXC2 transcription factor. We used microarrays to study the transcriptional networks controlled by FOXC2 in human lymphatic endothelial cells subjected to oscillatory shear stress or cultured under static conditions.
Project description:To profile shear stress-regulated endothelial transcriptomes, we performed RNA-seq with HUVECs subjected to different shear flow conditions, including atheroprotective pulsatile shear (PS, 12±4 dyn/cm2) and atheroprone oscillatory shear (OS, 0.5±4 dyn/cm2), or kept as static control (ST) for four time periods (1, 4, 12 and 24 hours)
Project description:While variations in gene transcription networks in models of atherosclerosis have been reported, the underlying changes in the chromatin landscape induced by pro-atherogenic stimuli remain elusive. In the present study, we report changes in chromatin regulatory elements that mediate transcriptional control upon the application of oscillatory shear stress of ±3 dyn/cm2 in primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) at 6 h time point of oscillatory shear stress stimulation compared to static condition.
Project description:Many studies have characterized the results of shear stress changes on cultured endothelial cells in different bioreactor systems. However it is still unclear how an invasive intervention like stent procedure may influence the transcriptional response of endothelium. To study the simultaneous effects of shear stress changes and stent application on endothelial gene expression, we have used an experimental apparatus of laminar flow bioreactor (LFB) system with human cultured endothelial cells exposed or not exposed to stent procedure with different flow conditions. Microarray analysis was evaluated in each experimental protocol. HUVECs (2nd and 5th passage) covered on Thermanox slides were submitted to static, low and physiological (0, 1, 5 and 10 dyne/cm2) shear stress in absence (AS) or presence (PS) of stent in LFB system for 24h. Affymetryx analysis has been performed in duplicate by Consortium for Genomic Technologies (Cogentech; Milan, Italy)
Project description:The lymphatic system removes fluid from the interstitial space and returns it to the blood with a tremendous capacity: during inflammation, lymph flow rates can increase dramatically; however, during chronic lymphedema, there is little or no flow. The ability of lymphatic endothelium to sense and actively regulate this function is unknown, and shear stress is likely a key indicator of lymph flow. We profiled gene expression in human dermal microvascular lymphatic endothelial cells exposed to 0, 2 and 20 dyn/cm2 shear stress as representative of chronic lymphedema, normal, and acute inflammatory conditions, respectively. We found important adaptive responses correlated to multiple aspects of lymphatic function. Importantly, shear stress upregulated intracellular water and solute transporters while decreasing cell-cell adhesion and basement membrane components and increasing cell-matrix interactions. This data indicate that during high loading conditions, both passive and active drainage function increases, while conversely when fluid drainage is blocked, transport function is diminished in the lymphatic endothelium. These data demonstrate the first functional-adaptive response of lymphatic endothelium to flow conditions, thus indicating that the lymphatic endothelium plays an active role in regulating their function. Keywords: Shear stress, dose response, cell type comparison Lymphatic endothelial cells were subjected to 0, 2, or 20 dyn/cm2 shear stress; blood endothelial cells were subjected to 0 or 20 dyn/cm2 shear stress. Four samples were used for each cell type/shear level group for a total of 20 samples. Each sample was independently compared to human universal reference RNA via two-color microarray analysis for a total of 20 arrays. In all cases, the experimental samples were labeled with Cy5 dye while the reference RNA was labeled with Cy3.
Project description:The arterial endothelium’s response to its flow environment is critical to vascular homeostasis. The endothelial glycocalyx has been shown to play a major role in mechanotransduction, but the extent to which the components of the glycocalyx affect the overall function of the endothelium remains unclear. The objective of this study was to further elucidate the role of heparan sulfate as a mechanosensor on the surface of the arterial endothelium, by (1) expanding the variety of shear waveforms investigated, (2) continuously suppressing heparan sulfate expression rather than using a pre-flow batch treatment, and (3) performing microarray analysis on post-flow samples. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were exposed to non-reversing, reversing, and oscillatory shear waveforms for 24 hours with or without continuous heparan sulfate suppression with heparinase. All shear waveforms significantly increased the amount of heparan sulfate on the surface of the endothelium. Suppression of heparan sulfate to less than 25% of control levels did not inhibit shear-induced cell alignment or nitric oxide production, or alter gene expression, for any of the shear waveforms investigated. We infer that heparan sulfate on the surface of porcine aortic endothelial cells is not the primary mechanosensor for many shear-responsive endothelial cell functions in this species. Porcine aortic endothelial cells were exposed to 3 different shear waveforms for 24 hours with or without the addition of 300 mU/ml heparinase III to the flow media. The shear waveforms inculded Non-reversing (15 ± 15 dyne/cm2, 1 Hz), Steady (15 dyne/cm2), or Oscillatory (0 ± 15 dyne/cm2, 1 Hz) shear. Four replicates of each condition were performed for a total of 24 experiments. Each experimental sample was hybridized to an oligonucleotide array along with a standard reference sample (static cells).
Project description:The goal of this study was to find longitudinal transcriptional response of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) to pulsatile shear (PS) and oscillatory shear (OS). PS is associated with an atheroprotective endothelial phenotype, while OS is associated with an atheroprone endothelial phenotype. Using RNASeq method (single-ended 50-bp sequencing on Illumina Hi-seq 2000 instrument), we measured the transcriptional response at 10 time-points (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 20, 24 hr) under PS and OS conditions. Low flow scenario was used as static condition. Two replicates were used for each condition/time-point. Results: Through combining the temporal data on differentially expressed transcription factors and their targets with existing knowledge on relevant functional pathways, we infer the causal relationships between disparate endothelial functions through common transcriptional regulation mechanisms. Our study presents the first comprehensive temporally longitudinal experimental study and mechanistic model of shear stress response. By comparing the relative endothelial expressions of genes between OS and PS, we provide novel insights and an integrated perspective into endothelial cell function in response to differential shear.
Project description:Laminar shear stress due to constant blood flow is known to play a critical role in maintaining vascular health. In contrast, endothelial cell senescence appears to be closely associated with the incidence of vascular disorder. In an attempt to identify functional biomarkers for age-related vascular health/disease, the present study investigated differential gene expression of young and senescent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under static and laminar shear stress. We used a cDNA microarray method to compare gene expression profiles of young and senescent HUVECs under static and laminar shear stress conditions. Experiment Overall Design: Senescent cells were prepared by continuous subculture in vitro, and a cone-and-plate device was used to impose laminar shear stress onto cells. Young and senescent cells were exposed to laminar shear stress or maintained under static conditions. Total mRNA was extracted and gene expression profiles were analyzed by cDNA microarray.
Project description:Atherosclerosis is an important pathological factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to increased plasma lipid concentrations, irregular/oscillatory shear stress and inflammatory processes trigger pathophysiological changes. Inhibitors of the transcription modulatory bromo- and extra-terminal domain (BET) protein family (BETi) could offer a possible therapeutic approach due to their anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, the influence of laminar shear stress, inflammation and BETi on human endothelial cells in an atherosclerosis in vitro model was investigated using global protein expression profiling. For this purpose, human umbilical cord derived vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with TNFα to mimic the inflammatory condition and were exposed to 24h laminar shear stress in the presence or absence of a BRD4 inhibitor, JQ1. Data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) alloqed us to quantify 3316 proteins for further statistical analysis. Differentially regulated proteins indicate a clear influence of inflammation and shear stress on human endothelial cells. Overall, application of JQ1 is led to significant changes in the proteome, including a strong anti-inflammatory response as well as a potentially negative impact on atherosclerosis formation. To our knowledge, this is the first proteomics study on HUVEC which investigates the influence of shear stress and BET inhibition in TNFα inflammatory endothelial cell culture model.