Vascular endothelial cells minimize the total force on their nuclei

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Updated: Oct 18, 2026

Human Saphenous Vein Endothelial Cell Isolation and Exposure to Controlled Levels of Shear Stress and Stretch
09:10

Human Saphenous Vein Endothelial Cell Isolation and Exposure to Controlled Levels of Shear Stress and Stretch

Published on: April 21, 2023

A L Hazel1, T J Pedley

  • 1Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Cambridge, Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EW, United Kingdom. andrew@chopin.bme.ohio-state.edu

Biophysical Journal
|January 5, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Endothelial cells, lining arteries, respond to blood flow by changing shape. This study suggests cells may align their nuclei with flow to minimize mechanical stress, potentially impacting atherosclerosis development.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cell Biology
  • Cardiovascular Science

Background:

  • The vascular endothelium is crucial in cardiovascular health and disease.
  • Atherosclerosis, a major cause of death, is influenced by hemodynamic forces.
  • Endothelial cells exhibit mechanical responses to blood flow, including elongation and alignment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanical forces on endothelial cell nuclei under shear flow.
  • To determine if endothelial cells align to minimize force on their nuclei.

Main Methods:

  • Calculated force distribution on a 3D ellipsoidal hump (representing cell nucleus) in uniform shear flow.
  • Analyzed the effect of hump aspect ratio on total force experienced.

Main Results:

  • The least total force on a nonaxisymmetric ellipsoidal hump occurs when aligned with flow.
  • A specific aspect ratio (0.38:2.2:1.0; height:length:width) minimizes force for a fixed volume.
  • This calculated optimal aspect ratio closely matches in vivo endothelial cell nucleus dimensions.

Conclusions:

  • Endothelial cells may align their nuclei with blood flow to reduce mechanical stress.
  • This force-minimizing behavior could be a protective mechanism against atherosclerosis initiation.

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