Over the past decade, since it was first observed in vivo, there has been an explosion interest thin (∼500 nm), gel-like endothelial glycocalyx layer (EGL) that coats luminal surface of blood vessels. In this review, we examine mechanical and biochemical properties EGL latest studies on interactions with red white cells. This includes its deformation owing to fluid shear stress, penetration by leukocyte microvilli, restorative response after passage a cell tightly fitting capillary. We also...

The objective of this study was to test whether a glycosaminoglycan component the surface glycocalyx layer is fluid shear stress sensor on endothelial cells (ECs). Because enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production in response characteristic and physiologically important ECs, we evaluated NOx (NO2- NO3-) after enzymatic removal heparan sulfate, dominant EC glycocalyx, from cultured ECs. significant induced by steady (20 dyne/cm2) inhibited completely pretreatment with 15 mU/mL heparinase III...

Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown is a hallmark of diabetic retinopathy, but the molecular changes that cause this pathology are unclear. Occludin transmembrane component interendothelial tight junctions may regulate permeability at BRB. In study, we examined effects vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and diabetes on occludin content function. Sprague-Dawley rats were made by intravenous streptozotocin injection, age-matched animals served as controls. After 3 months, BRB was...

Abstract. Endothelial cells (ECs) line all blood vessel walls and are exposed to the mechanical forces of flow which modulate their function play a role in vascular regulation, remodelling disease. The principal sensed by ECs shear stress flowing on apical surface, circumferential resisting pressure, induces stretch cell body. ‘Mechanotransduction’ refers mechanisms these transduced into biomolecular responses cells. Given importance endothelial mechanotransduction cardiovascular physiology...

Endothelial cells (ECs) are covered by a surface glycocalyx layer that forms part of the barrier and mechanosensing functions blood-tissue interface. Removal albumin in bathing media induces collapse or shedding glycocalyx. The electrostatic interaction between arginine residues on albumin, negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been hypothesized to stabilize structure. Because is one primary carriers phospholipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), we evaluated alternate hypothesis...

Mammalian epithelial cells are coated with a multifunctional surface glycocalyx (GCX). On vascular endothelial (EC), intact GCX is atheroprotective. It degraded in many diseases. heparan sulfate (HS) essential for healthy flow-induced EC nitric oxide (NO) release, elongation, and alignment. The HS core protein mechanisms involved these processes unknown. We hypothesized that the glypican-1 (GPC1) mediates NO synthase (eNOS) activation because GPC1 anchored to caveolae where eNOS resides....

We propose a conceptual model for the cytoskeletal organization of endothelial cells (ECs) based on major dichotomy in structure and function at basal apical aspects cells. Intracellular distributions filamentous actin (F-actin), vinculin, paxillin, ZO-1, Cx43 were analyzed from confocal micrographs rat fat-pad ECs after 5 h shear stress. With intact glycocalyx, there was severe disruption dense peripheral bands (DPABs) migration vinculin to cell borders under uniform stress (10.5 dyne/cm 2...

Objective— Recent publications questioned the validity of endothelial cell (EC) culture studies glycocalyx (GCX) function because findings that GCX in vitro may be substantially thinner than vivo. The assessment thickness differences is complicated by collapse during dehydration for traditional electron microscopy. We measured using rapid freezing/freeze substitution (RF/FS) transmission microscopy (TEM), taking advantage high spatial resolution provided TEM and capability to stably preserve...

The arterial media is modeled as a periodic array of cylindrical smooth muscle cells residing in matrix comprised proteoglycan and collagen fibers. Using Brinkman’s model to describe transmural flow through such fibrous media, we calculate the effective hydraulic permeability wall shear stress on cells. Two interesting results are obtained: first, order 1 dyne/cm2, which range known affect endothelial vitro; second, resistance due not negligible compared fiber matrix.

Due to the better resolution and performance provided by new generation of real-time high ultrasonic scanners, blood now becomes a tissue which can also be visualized ultrasonically. There is strong experimental evidence indicating that echogenicity increased as result erythrocyte aggregation. In this paper, we will show flow disturbance may play significant role in influencing backscatter or echogenicity. Our results indicate introduction turbulent cause from suspensions increase...

Abstract The endothelial cells (ECs) lining every blood vessel wall are constantly exposed to the mechanical forces generated by flow. EC responses these hemodynamic play a critical role in homeostasis of circulatory system. To ensure proper mechano‐sensing and transduction, there variety mechano‐sensors transducers that have been identified on surface, intra‐ trans‐EC membrane within cytoskeleton. Among them, most recent candidate is surface glycocalyx (ESG), which matrix‐like thin layer...

The endothelial glycocalyx is vital for mechanotransduction and barrier integrity. We previously demonstrated the early changes in organization during initial 30 min of shear exposure. In present study, we tested hypothesis that long-term stress induces further remodeling resulting a robust layer, explored responses membrane rafts actin cytoskeleton. After exposure to 24 h, components heparan sulfate, chondroitin glypican-1 syndecan-1, were enhanced on apical surface, with nearly uniform...

This review places modern research developments in vascular mechanobiology the context of hemodynamic phenomena cardiovascular system and discrete localization disease. The origins this field are traced, beginning 1960s when associations between flow characteristics, particularly blood flow-induced wall shear stress, atherosclerotic plaques were uncovered, continuing to fluid stress effects on lining endothelial) cells (ECs), including their EC morphology, biochemical production, gene...

It is widely believed that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and bound plasma proteins form an interconnected gel-like structure on the surface of endothelial cells (the glycocalyx layer-EGL) stabilized by interaction its components. However, structural organization GAGs contribution individual components to stability EGL are largely unknown.To evaluate hypothesis would collapse when GAG were almost completely removed a specific enzyme.Using confocal microscopy, we observed coverage thickness...

Due to its unique location, the endothelial surface glycocalyx (ESG) at luminal side of microvessel wall may serve as a mechano-sensor and transducer blood flow thus regulate functions. To examine this role ESG, we used fluorescence microscopy measure nitric oxide (NO) production in post-capillary venules arterioles rat mesentery under reduced (low) normal (high) conditions, with without enzyme pretreatment remove heparan sulfate (HS) ESG presence an synthase (eNOS) inhibitor,...