title: Tuning endothelial monolayer adhesion: a neutron reflectivity study.
abstract: Endothelial cells, master gatekeepers of the cardiovascular system, line its inner boundary from the heart to distant capillaries constantly exposed to blood flow. Interendothelial signaling and the monolayers adhesion to the underlying collagen-rich basal lamina are key in physiology and disease. Using neutron scattering, we report the first ever interfacial structure of endothelial monolayers under dynamic flow conditions mimicking the cardiovascular system. Endothelial adhesion (defined as the separation distance ℓ between the basal cell membrane and solid boundary) is explained using developed interfacial potentials and intramembrane segregation of specific adhesion proteins. Our method provides a powerful tool for the biophysical study of cellular layer adhesion strength in living tissues.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Surgery, Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. pocivavsekl@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pocivavsek
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Junghans
authors.forename: Noureddine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zebda
authors.forename: Konstantin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Birukov
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Majewski
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D033363:Neutron Diffraction; D053838:Scattering, Small Angle; D013312:Stress, Physiological
keywords: adhesion; endothelial monolayer; neutron scattering; shear stress