Erythrocyte membranes alteration in a shear stress measured by fluorescence anisotropy.

An experimental setup has been designed to allow fluorescence anisotropy measurements on labeled cell membranes under shear stress. An important change is observed when increasing the shear stress and varying the experimental parameters indicates that a decrease in membrane cohesion leads to a subsequent increase in the membrane alteration under shear stress. A model has been developed that shows, in agreement with experiment, that the effect observed is mainly the result of the alteration of the membrane, elongation, and orientation with respect to the fluid flow, which can be estimated.     

Mammalian cell damage in a novel membrane bioreactor

The experimental study has assessed a novel membrane bioreactor for mammalian cell culture. In the absence of a gas phase, the key features of cell damage associated with laminar and turbulent flow have been identified. The bioreactor employs a dimpled membrane in order to enhance transverse mixing in a narrow channel, but a fall in viable cell density has been observed at Reynolds numbers above Re = 83. In the laminar flow regime wall shear is the critical mechanism and an accurate calculation of shear rate in a complex channel has been achieved using the Reynolds analogy. Flow generating a wall shear rate in excess of 3000 s(-1) has been shown to cause damage. Power dissipation measurements have been used to distinguish between laminar and turbulent flow and also to predict Kolmogorov eddy lengths. An additional turbulent bulk stress damage mechanism at higher Reynolds numbers (Re > 250) results in a very rapid fall in viable cell density.     

Red cell membrane elasticity as determined by flow channel technique.

The elasticity of red cell membrane was determined in a rectangular flow channel under controlled shear flow. The relation between shear stress and cell extension ratio (lambda) has been analyzed with the use of Evans' two-dimensional model. The deformed cell shapes observed experimentally agreed well with the model with lambda up to 1.4. The best correlation was found at lambda = 1.2. The analysis suggests a nonlinear extensional membrane modulus in the low stress range encountered in the flow channel. In terms of an appropriate strain parameter, the elastic modulus is shown to rise toward the level encountered in micropipette aspiration experiments. The implications of the present findings in modeling of cell mechanics and in cell hemolysis are discussed.     

Shear stress-induced redistribution of the glycocalyx on endothelial cells in vitro

The glycocalyx is the inner most layer of the endothelium that is in direct contact with the circulating blood. Shear stress affects its synthesis and reorganization. This study focuses on changes in the spatial distribution of the glycocalyx caused by shear stimulation and its recovery following the removal of the shear stress. Sialic acid components of the glycocalyx on human umbilical vain endothelial cells are observed using confocal microscopy. The percentage area of the cell membrane covered by the glycocalyx, as well as the average fluorescence intensity ratio between the apical and edge areas of the cell is used to assess the spatial distribution of the glycocalyx on the cell membrane. Our results show that following 24 h shear stimulation, the glycocalyx relocates near the edge of endothelial cells (i.e., cell–cell junction regions). Following the removal of the shear stress, the glycocalyx redistributes and gradually appears in the apical region of the cell membrane. This redistribution is faster in the early hours ( $<$ 4 h) after shear stimulation than that in the later stage (e.g., between 8 and 24 h). We further investigate the recovery of the glycocalyx after its enzyme degradation under either static or shear flow conditions. Our results show that following 24 h recovery under shear flow, the glycocalyx reappears predominantly near the edge of endothelial cells. Static and shear flow conditions result in notable changes in the spatial recovery of the glycocalyx, but the difference is not statistically significant. We hypothesize that newly synthesized glycocalyx is not structurally well developed. Its weak interaction with flow results in less than significant redistribution, contrary to what has been observed for a well-developed glycocalyx layer.     

Biomechanics of cell rolling: shear flow, cell-surface adhesion, and cell deformability

The mechanics of leukocyte (white blood cell; WBC) deformation and adhesion to endothelial cells (EC) has been investigated using a novel in vitro side-view flow assay. HL-60 cell rolling adhesion to surface-immobilized P-selectin was used to model the WBC-EC adhesion process. Changes in flow shear stress, cell deformability, or substrate ligand strength resulted in significant changes in the characteristic adhesion binding time, cell-surface contact and cell rolling velocity. A 2-D model indicated that cell-substrate contact area under a high wall shear stress (20 dyn/cm2) could be nearly twice of that under a low stress (0.5 dyn/cm2) due to shear flow-induced cell deformation. An increase in contact area resulted in more energy dissipation to both adhesion bonds and viscous cytoplasm, whereas the fluid energy that inputs to a cell decreased due to a flattened cell shape. The model also predicted a plateau of WBC rolling velocity as flow shear stresses further increased. Both experimental and computational studies have described how WBC deformation influences the WBC-EC adhesion process in shear flow.     

Fluid shear stress increases membrane fluidity in endothelial cells: a study with DCVJ fluorescence

Fluid shear stress (FSS) has been shown to be an ubiquitous stimulator of mammalian cell metabolism. Although many of the intracellular signal transduction pathways have been characterized, the primary mechanoreceptor for FSS remains unknown. One hypothesis is that the cytoplasmic membrane acts as the receptor for FSS, leading to increased membrane fluidity, which in turn leads to the activation of heterotrimetric G proteins (13). 9-(Dicyanovinyl)-julolidine (DCVJ) is a fluorescent probe that integrates into the cell membrane and changes its quantum yield with the viscosity of the environment. In a parallel-plate flow chamber, confluent layers of DCVJ-labeled human endothelial cells were exposed to different levels of FSS. With increased FSS, a reduced fluorescence intensity was observed, indicating an increase of membrane fluidity. Step changes of FSS caused an approximately linear drop of fluorescence within 5 s, showing fast and almost full recovery after shear cessation. A linear dose-response relationship between shear stress and membrane fluidity changes was observed. The average fluidity increase over the entire cell monolayer was 22% at 26 dyn/cm(2). This study provides evidence for a link between FSS and membrane fluidity, and suggests that the membrane is an important flow mechanosensor of the cell.     

Evidence for shear-induced increase in membrane fluidity in the dinoflagellate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lingulodinium polyedrum</Emphasis>

Fluid shear stress has been demonstrated to affect the structure and function of various cell types. In mammalian cells, it was hypothesized that shear-induced membrane fluidization leads to activation of heterotrimetric G-proteins. The purpose of this study was to determine if a similar mechanism exists in the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum, a single-celled eukaryotic aquatic organism that bioluminesces under shear stress. Membrane fluidity changes in L. polyedrum were monitored using the molecular rotor 9-(dicyanovinyl)-julolidine, whose fluorescence intensity changes inversely with membrane fluidity. Dual-staining with 9-(dicyanovinyl)-julolidine and the membrane dye 1-(4-trimethylammoniumphenyl)-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene p-toluenesulfonate indicates membrane localization. Subjecting L. polyedrum cells to increasing shear stress reversibly decreased 9-(dicyanovinyl)-julolidine fluorescence, while autofluorescence of the cytoplasmic chlorophyll did not change. The relationship between shear stress (0.63 Pa, 1.25 Pa, 1.88 Pa, and 2.5 Pa) and membrane fluidity changes was linear and dose-dependent with a 12% increase in fluidity at 2.5 Pa. To further explore this mechanism a membrane fluidizing agent, dimethyl sulfoxide was added. Dimethyl sulfoxide decreased 9-(dicyanovinyl)-julolidine emission by 41+/-15% and elicited a dose-dependent bioluminescent response at concentrations of 0.2%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.25%. This study demonstrates a link between fluid shear stress and membrane fluidity, and suggests that the membrane is an important flow mechanosensor of dinoflagellates.     

Arterial shear stress stimulates surface expression of the endothelial glycoprotein Ib complex

Exposure to shear stress has been shown to alter the expression of a number of surface components of cultured endothelial cells (EC). However, relatively few studies have examined the status of human EC surface proteins after prolonged flow, more closely corresponding to the steady state in vivo. Since the promoter region of glycoprotein (Gp) Ib alpha contains several copies of a putative shear stress response element, 5'-GAGACC-3', we investigated the response of cultured human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) GpIb alpha to shear stress over a 72 h time period. In response to 30 dynes/cm2 of shear stress, total cell content of GpIb alpha protein was markedly increased above static levels at 7 and 24 h, as determined immunohistochemically. Western blot analysis of whole cell lysates after 24, 48, and 72 h of shear treatment demonstrated a 2.4-, 4.1-, and 3.2-fold increase in total GpIb alpha protein, respectively. Cell surface protein expression of GpIb alpha increased 2.5-fold at 7 h, as measured by quantitative immunofluorescence, and remained at that level at 24 h. After 48 h of shear stress, cell surface GpIb alpha, GpIX, and GpV, analyzed by flow cytometric analysis, were further increased over the levels observed at 24 h. The increase in cell surface membrane expression of GPIb alpha at 24, 48, and 72 h was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of biotinylated surface proteins. No upregulation of GpIb alpha was noted after exposure to shear stress of 1-3 dynes/cm2. These observations imply that under steady-state arterial shear conditions endothelial expression of the GpIb complex is significantly greater than observed in static EC cultures, and raise the possibility of a more important role for this complex under flow, rather than static conditions.     

Accurate prediction of wall shear stress in a stented artery: newtonian versus non-newtonian models

A significant amount of evidence linking wall shear stress to neointimal hyperplasia has been reported in the literature. As a result, numerical and experimental models have been created to study the influence of stent design on wall shear stress. Traditionally, blood has been assumed to behave as a Newtonian fluid, but recently that assumption has been challenged. The use of a linear model; however, can reduce computational cost, and allow the use of Newtonian fluids (e.g., glycerine and water) instead of a blood analog fluid in an experimental setup. Therefore, it is of interest whether a linear model can be used to accurately predict the wall shear stress caused by a non-Newtonian fluid such as blood within a stented arterial segment. The present work compares the resulting wall shear stress obtained using two linear and one nonlinear model under the same flow waveform. All numerical models are fully three-dimensional, transient, and incorporate a realistic stent geometry. It is shown that traditional linear models (based on blood's lowest viscosity limit, 3.5 Pa s) underestimate the wall shear stress within a stented arterial segment, which can lead to an overestimation of the risk of restenosis. The second linear model, which uses a characteristic viscosity (based on an average strain rate, 4.7 Pa s), results in higher wall shear stress levels, but which are still substantially below those of the nonlinear model. It is therefore shown that nonlinear models result in more accurate predictions of wall shear stress within a stented arterial segment.     

Vascular endothelial wound closure under shear stress: role of membrane fluidity and flow-sensitive ion channels.

Sufficiently rapid healing of vascular endothelium following injury is essential for preventing further pathological complications. Recent work suggests that fluid dynamic shear stress regulates endothelial cell (EC) wound closure. Changes in membrane fluidity and activation of flow-sensitive ion channels are among the most rapid endothelial responses to flow and are thought to play an important role in EC responsiveness to shear stress. The goal of the present study was to probe the role of these responses in bovine aortic EC (BAEC) wound closure under shear stress. BAEC monolayers were mechanically wounded and subsequently subjected to either "high" (19 dyn/cm(2)) or "low" (3 dyn/cm(2)) levels of steady shear stress. Image analysis was used to quantify cell migration and spreading under both flow and static control conditions. Our results demonstrate that, under static conditions, BAECs along both wound edges migrate at similar velocities to cover the wounded area. Low shear stress leads to significantly lower BAEC migration velocities, whereas high shear stress results in cells along the upstream edge of the wound migrating significantly more rapidly than those downstream. The data also show that reducing BAEC membrane fluidity by enriching the cell membrane with exogenous cholesterol significantly slows down both cell spreading and migration under flow and hence retards wound closure. Blocking flow-sensitive K and Cl channels reduces cell spreading under flow but has no impact on cell migration. These findings provide evidence that membrane fluidity and flow-sensitive ion channels play distinct roles in regulating EC wound closure under flow.     

Properties of microfiltration membranes: the effects of adsorption and shear on the recovery of an enzyme

An experimental study of the interaction of the enzyme yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (YADH) with microfiltration membranes has been carried out. Most measurements were made with capillary pore inorganic membranes (Anopore) with some comparative measurements being made with polymeric membranes of low protein affinity (Durapore). It has been shown that the prolonged exposure of the enzyme to the inorganic membrane under low-shear conditions (slow recycle) resulted in a loss of enzyme activity. Under filtration conditions, the membrane permeation rate decreased continuously with time. This decrease could be quantified using the standard blocking filtration law, which describes a decrease in pore volume due to deposition of enzyme on the walls of the pore. No significant loss in activity of permeating enzyme occurred under solution conditions where the enzyme was stable. However, a significant loss of such activity occurred under solution conditions where the enzyme was slightly unstable. The experiments indicate that the likely mechanism for activity loss is a membrane/enzyme interaction resulting from a shear induced deformation of the enzyme structure. Two conclusions of practical importance are drawn from the work. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

缓慢干旱下春小麦叶片质膜脂肪酸组成、H~+-ATPase肥及5′-AMPase活力的变化

研究了田间缓慢干旱胁迫下,抗旱性不同的两个小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种的生长状况、质膜极性脂脂肪酸组成以及质膜关键酶活力的变化。在小麦生长发育的早期,干旱胁迫使其叶片质膜极性脂脂肪酸不饱和度下降、质膜微囊消耗O_2的速率升高、膜蛋白含量降低、H~+-ATPase(EC 3.6.1.35)活力下降、5′-AMPase(EC 3.1.3.5)活力大幅度升高;在小麦发育的后期,随着干旱的持续,小麦叶片质膜的极性脂脂肪酸不饱和度不变或升高、质膜微囊消耗O_2的速率降低、膜蛋白含量与H~+-ATPase活力升高、5′-AMPase活力下降。以上结果表明,小麦在发育的早期阶段对干旱较敏感,其细胞质膜流动性降低、细胞中能荷贮备降低;而在后期,则又表现出对干旱的适应。这些结果将有助于阐明自然干旱条件下植物的抗旱机制。     

Cell-free layer and wall shear stress variation in microvessels

In this study, we simulated multiple red blood cells flowing through straight microvessels with the immersed-boundary lattice-Boltzmann model to examine the shear stress variation on the microvessel surface and its relation to the properties of cell-free layer. Significant variation in shear stress has been observed due to the irregular configuration of blood cells flowing near the microvessel wall. A low shear stress is typically found at locations where there is a cell flowing close to the wall, and a large shear stress at locations with a relatively wide gap between cell and wall. This relationship between the shear stress magnitude and the distance between cell and wall has been attributed to the reverse pressure difference developed between the front and rear sides of a cell flowing near the vessel wall. We further studied the effects of several hemodynamic factors on the variation of shear stress, including the cell deformability, the flow rate, and the aggregation among red blood cells. These simulations show that the shear stress variation is less profound in situations with wider cell-free layers, since the reverse pressure difference around the edge cells is less evident, and the influence of this pressure difference on wall shear stress becomes weaker. This study also demonstrates the complexity of the flow field in the gap between cell and wall. More precise experimental techniques are required accurately measure such shear stress variation in microcirculation.     

The effect of hydrodynamic stress on the growth of Xanthomonas campestris cultures in a stirred and sparged tank bioreactor

The specific growth and the xanthan production rates by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris under different shear levels in shake flasks and in a stirred and sparged tank bioreactor have been studied. The shake flask has been used as a reference for studying the shear effects. An effectiveness factor expressed by the ratio of the observed growth rate and the growth rate without oxygen limitation or cell damage was calculated in both modes of cultures. It was observed that the effectiveness factor was strongly dependent on the operational conditions. A strong oxygen transfer limitation at low stirring rates, indicated by a 54 % decrease in the effectiveness factor was observed. In contrast, at higher stirrer speed, cell damage was caused by hydrodynamic stress in the turbulent bulk of the broth, yielding again a decrease in the effectiveness factor values for stirrer speeds higher than 500 rpm. Cell morphological changes were also observed depending on the agitation conditions, differences in morphology being evident at high shear stress.     

Red blood cell orientation in orbit C = 0.

Two modes of behavior of single human red cells in a shear field have been described. It is known that in low viscosity media and at shear rates less than 20 s-1, the cells rotate with a periodically varying angular velocity, in accord with the theory of Jeffery (1922) for oblate spheroids. In media of viscosity greater than approximately 5 mPa s and sufficiently high shear rates, the cells align themselves at a constant angle to the direction of flow with the membrane undergoing tank-tread motion. Also, in low viscosity media, as the shear rate is increased, more and more cells lie in the plane of shear, undergoing spin with their axes of symmetry aligned with the vorticity axis of the shear field in an orbit "C = 0" (Goldsmith and Marlow, 1972). We have explored this latter phenomenon using two experimental methods. First, the erythrocytes were observed in the rheoscope and their diameters measured. Forward light scattering patterns were correlated with the red cell orientation mode. Light flux variations after flow onset or stop were measured, and the characteristic times of erythrocyte orientation and disorientation were assessed. The characteristic time of erythrocyte orientation in Orbit C = 0 is proportional to the inverse of the shear rate. The corresponding coefficient of proportionality depends on the suspending medium viscosity eta o. The disorientation time tau D, after flow has been stopped, is such that the ratio tau D/eta o is independent of the initial applied shear stress. However, tau D is much shorter than one would expect if pure Brownian motion were involved. The proportion of erythrocytes in orbit C = 0 was also measured. It was found that this proportion is a function of both the shear rate and eta o. At low values of eta o, the proportion increases with increasing shear rate and then reaches a plateau. For higher values of eta o (5 to 10 mPa s), the proportion of RBC in orbit C = 0 is a decreasing function of the shear stress. A critical transition between orbit C = 0 and parallel alignment was observed at high values of eta o, when the shear stress is on the order of 1 N/m2. Finally, the effect of altering membrane viscoelastic properties (by heat or diamide treatment) was tested. The proportion of oriented cells is a steep decreasing function of red cell rigidity.     

Fluid shear-induced activation and cleavage of CD18 during pseudopod retraction by human neutrophils

Surface membrane expression and conformational activation of CD18 integrins into an open molecular configuration play critical roles in neutrophil ligand binding, membrane attachment, spreading on the endothelium, and cell migration to sites of inflammation. Previously, we observed pseudopod retraction and concomitant cleavage of CD18 by human neutrophils upon exposure to fluid shear stress. But the underlying cellular mechanism(s) linking these phenomena remains unknown. We hypothesize here that activation of CD18 under the influence of fluid shear stress leads to its increased susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage by lysosomal proteases such as cathepsin B and is a requirement for CD18 cleavage and subsequent pseudopod retraction. Specifically, we report conformational changes in the CD18 extracellular domain on neutrophils exposed to physiological fluid shear stresses. Western blot analysis using a CD18 antibody targeted against the intracellular domain revealed reduced levels of full-length CD18 after stimulation of neutrophils with either fluid shear stress or with the Ca2+ ionophore phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 100 nM) in the presence of exogenous cathepsin B (0.5 U/ml). Moreover, we identified cathepsin B as one protease that may be released by neutrophils under flow and required for shear-induced pseudopod retraction. These results suggest that a putative mechanotransduction mechanism involving shear-induced changes in the conformation of CD18 and its subsequent cleavage from the cell surface serves to regulate pseudopod activity of neutrophils under physiologic shear stress.     

缓慢干旱下春小麦叶片质膜脂肪酸组成、H+-ATPase及5′-AMPase活力的变化

 研究了田间缓慢干旱胁迫下,抗旱性不同的两个小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种的生长状况、质膜极性脂脂肪酸组成以及质膜关键酶活力的变化。在小麦生长发育的早期,干旱胁迫使其叶片质膜极性脂脂肪酸不饱和度下降、质膜微囊消耗O2的速率升高、膜蛋白含量降低、H+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.35)活力下降、5'-AMPase (EC 3.1.3.5)活力大幅度升高;在小麦发育的后期,随着干旱的持续,小麦叶片质膜的极性脂脂肪酸不饱和度不变或升高、质膜微囊消耗O2的速率降低、膜蛋白含量与H+-ATPase活力升高、5'-AMPase活力下降。以上结果表明,小麦在发育的早期阶段对干旱较敏感,其细胞质膜流动性降低、细胞中能荷贮备降低;而在后期,则又表现出对干旱的适应。这些结果将有助于阐明自然干旱条件下植物的抗旱机制。     

Shear stress affects the kinetics of Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to collagen

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen that has been shown to bind collagen under static conditions. However, many staphylococcal infections are hematogenously acquired and adhesion events may be influenced by shear stress. In this study, we used a dynamic experimental system consisting of a parallel-plate perfusion chamber and phase-contrast video microscope to study the effects of shear stress on the adhesion kinetics of intact S. aureus to collagen surfaces in vitro. The adhesion of S. aureus Phillips to collagen types I, II, and IV was investigated over a physiologically relevant range of wall shear stresses at 37 degrees C. S. aureus PH100, a collagen adhesin-deficient mutant strain, was used as a control strain for the experiments. We found that S. aureus Phillips could adhere to collagens I, II, and IV at wall shear stresses less than 15 dyn/cm(2) and that the kinetics of the adhesion process were wall shear stress-dependent. Similar studies with PH100 demonstrated that these cells are unable to adhere firmly to collagen surfaces. Transient interactions between PH100 and the collagen surfaces were observed at low levels of shear stress suggesting that S. aureus may also interact with collagen by an alternative mechanism that does not lead to firm adhesion.     

Arterial remodeling in response to increased blood flow using a constituent-based model

Previous theoretical models of arterial remodeling in response to changes in blood flow were based on the assumption that material properties of the arterial wall remain unchanged during the remodeling process. According to experimental findings, however, remodeling due to increased flow is accompanied by alteration in the structural properties of elastin, which results in a decrease in its effective elastic stiffness. To account for these effects, we propose a predictive model of arterial remodeling hypothesizing that the variation in mechanical properties of elastin is initiated and driven by the deviation of the intimal shear stress from its baseline value. Geometrical remodeling restores the wall stress distribution as it was under normal flow conditions. A constrained mixture approach is followed. Artery is modeled as a thick-walled cylindrical tube made of non-linear, elastic, anisotropic and incompressible material. Data for a rabbit thoracic aorta have been employed. At the final adapted state, the model predicts a non-monotonic dependence of arterial compliance on the magnitude of flow. This result is in agreement with available experimental data in the literature.