title: Prolonged cyclic strain inhibits human endothelial cell growth.
abstract: The vascular endothelium is continuously exposed to cyclic mechanical strain due to the periodic change in vessel diameter as a result of pulsatile blood flow. Since emerging evidence indicates the cyclic strain plays an integral role in regulating endothelial cell function, the present study determined whether application of a physiologic regimen of cyclic strain (6% at 1 hertz) influences the proliferation of human arterial endothelial cells. Prolonged exposure of human dermal microvascular or human aortic endothelial cells to cyclic strain for up to 7 days resulted in a marked decrease in cell growth. The strain-mediated anti-proliferative effect was associated with the arrest of endothelial cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, did not involve cell detachment or cytotoxicity, and was due to the induction of p21. Interestingly, the inhibition in endothelial cell growth was independent of the strain regimen since prolonged application of constant or intermittent 6% strain was also able to block endothelial cell proliferation. The ability of chronic physiologic cyclic strain to inhibit endothelial cell growth represents a previously unrecognized mechanism by which hemodynamic forces maintain these cells in a quiescent, non-proliferative state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia.
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Peyton
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia.
authors.forename: Xiao-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA, durantew@health.missouri.edu.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Durante
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006801:Humans; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D054462:p21-Activated Kinases