title: Study on the deformation of endothelial cells using a bio-inspired in vitro disease model.
abstract: A bio-inspired in vitro disease model was developed to investigate the basic biophysics of atherosclerotic diseases. In vivo study was conducted in advance using zebrafish fed with a normal diet and a cholesterol-enriched diet. The endothelial cells (ECs) of the zebrafishes fed with a normal diet are tightly attached and aligned. Their collagen has a fiber-like structure. By contrast, the endothelial cells of the zebrafish on high cholesterol diet are disorganized and their collagen has broken structures. In vitro models of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were established on collagen films to mimic such in vivo experimental results. The normal collagen film simulates the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the blood vessels of a normal zebrafish, and the collagenase-treated collagen film mimics the ECM in blood vessels of an abnormal zebrafish. The HUVECs cultured on the normal collagen film are tightly attached, similar to those of a normal zebrafish. However, the cells cultured on the collagenase-treated collagen film are aggregated and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction are expressed on the surface of the abnormal endothelial cells established on the denatured collagen film. The present in vitro model using a bio-inspired collagen film has a great potential for the design of novel therapies for clinical treatments of atherosclerosis through better understanding on the outbreak mechanism of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology (IBB), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31 Hyoja-dong, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eunseok
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Center for Biofluid and Biomimic Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31 Hyoja-dong, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano-Bio Convergence, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Daejeon 305-600, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano-Bio Convergence, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS), Daejeon 305-600, South Korea; Department of Nano and Bio Surface Science, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 305-600, South Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Geol
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology (IBB), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31 Hyoja-dong, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, South Korea; Center for Biofluid and Biomimic Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31 Hyoja-dong, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk 790-784, South Korea. Electronic address: sjlee@postech.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sang Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048430:Cell Shape; D016922:Cellular Senescence; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000473:pathology; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003094:Collagen; D017364:Collagenases