Tissue plasminogen activator expression in endothelial cells exposed to cyclic strain in vitro

The effects of cyclic strain on the production of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) by cultured endothelial cells (EC) were examined. Human saphenous vein EC were seeded in selective areas of culture plates with flexible membrane bottoms (corresponding to specific strain regions) and grown to confluence. Membranes were deformed by vacuum (-20 kPa) at 60 cycles/min (0.5 s strain alternating with 0.5 s relaxation in the neutral position) for 5 days. EC grown in the periphery were subjected to 7-24% strain, while cells grown in the center experienced less than 7% strain. The results show a significant increase in immunoreactive tPA production on days 1, 3 and 5 compared to day 0 in EC subjected to more than 7% cyclic strain. There was no significant elevation of tPA in the medium of EC subjected to less than 7% strain. tPA activity could only be detected in the medium of EC subjected to more than 7% cyclic strain. PAI-1 levels in the medium were not significantly different in either group. In addition, immunocytochemical detection of intracellular tPA and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of tPA (assessed by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction utilizing tPA specific sense and antisense primers) was significantly increased in EC subjected to more than 7% cyclic strain. We conclude that a 60 cycles/min regimen of strain that is greater than 7% can selectively stimulate tPA production by EC in vitro and may contribute to the relative nonthrombogenicity of the endothelium in vivo.