Vascular smooth muscle cell glycocalyx influences shear stress-mediated contractile response.
This study addressed the influence of the rate of shear stress application on aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) contraction and the role of specific glycosaminoglycans in this mechanotransduction. Rat aortic SMCs were exposed to either a step increase in shear stress (0 to 25 dyn/cm(2)) or a ramp increase in shear stress (0 to 25 dyn/cm(2) over 5 min) in a parallel plate flow chamber, and cell contraction was characterized by cell area reduction. SMCs contracted at levels similar to those reported previously and equally in response to both a step and ramp increase in shear stress. When the cells were pretreated with heparinase III or chondroitinase ABC to remove the glycosaminoglycans heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, respectively, from the glycocalyx, the contraction response to increases in shear stress was significantly inhibited. These studies indicate that specific components of the SMC glycocalyx play an important role in the mechanotransduction of shear stress into a contractile response and that the rate of application of shear stress does not affect the SMC contraction.
Biomolecular Transport Dynamiucs Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Kristy M
KM
Ainslie
Jeffrey S
JS
Garanich
Randal O
RO
Dull
John M
JM
Tarbell
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017022:Flow Injection Analysis; D019276:Glycocalyx / Q000502:physiology*; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D033081:Shear Strength; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans