Shear Stress Inhibits Ednothelial Cell-Induced Migration Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Via PI3K/Akt Pathway

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are constantly exposed to blood flow-induced shear stress, which strongly influence the behaviors of neighboring vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The adhesion, spreading and migration of VSMCs are an essential process for vascular remodeling. Thus, the research in the area of VSMC biology will require considering mechanical factors and cell-to-cell interactions between VSMCs and ECs.In this paper, using a coculture system, we firstly investigated the interactions of ECs and VSMCs on adhesion and spreading of VSMCs. And then the difference of VSMC migration between VSMC/EC coculture under static conditions and in response to shear stress was assessed by a parallel-plate coculture flow chamber system. The results showed that VSMCs cocultured with ECs exhibited a significant increase in the number of adherent and spreading cells, and much more mRNA (twofold, P < 0.01)...