[Changes in extracellular matrix of endothelial cells co-cultured with VSMC under shear stress]

The construction and amount of fibronectin (Fn), laminin (Ln) and collagen type IV (ColIV) in the extracellular matrix of endothelial cells (EC) co-cultured with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) under shear stress were studied by immuno-fluoro-cytochemistry, laser confocal scanning microscopy and image analysis methods to detect the effect of shear stress on adhesion of EC for vascular tissue engineering. One group of EC was maintained under static conditions as a control. In the control, both Fn and Ln exhibited as a granular pattern in perinuclear area and a fibrillar pattern localized underneath EC, and Col IV exhibited mainly as the granular in the perinuclear area, but the fibrillar was fewer. On exposure of EC to shear stress in physiological range, Fn grouped into fibril tracts, and there was a tendency for some of these tracts of fibrils to align with direction of shear stress. Ln and Col IV also grouped into fibril tracts, which, in contrast to Fn, were randomly oriented, Simultaneously, all contents of the extracellular matrix had different quantitative alterations. These results suggest that the capability of adhesion of EC co-cultured with VSMC may be strengthened under shear stress.