Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026

The Assembly and Application of 'Shear Rings': A Novel Endothelial Model for Orbital, Unidirectional and Periodic Fluid Flow and Shear Stress
Published on: October 31, 2016
[Fluid shear stress upregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression and nitric oxide formation in human
Zhen Yang1, Jun Tao, Jie-Mei Wang
1Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, SUN Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Objective:
To observe the effect of fluid shear stress on the eNOS gene expression and NO production in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).
Methods:
The peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were inducted into EPCs and divided into stationary group (0 dyn/cm(2), 1 dyn/cm(2) = 0.1 Pa), low-flow shear stress group (5 dyn/cm(2)), medium-flow shear stress group (15 dyn/cm(2)) and high-flow shear stress group (25 dyn/cm(2)). The effects of shear stress on the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in human EPCs were measured.
Results:
Typical "spindle-shaped" appearance was shown in EPCs derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were positively labeled by acetylated-LDL, lectin, FLK-1 and vWF. After 4 hours treatment with various shear stresses, the ratio of eNOS/beta-actin mRNA expression by human EPCs in low, medium and high-flow shear stress group was 0.364, 0.505 and 0.548 respectively, which was significantly higher than that in stationary group (0.183, all P < 0.05) and the NO secretion in human EPCs in low, medium and high-flow shear stress group was also significantly higher than that in stationary group (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Fluid shear stress enhances the eNOS mRNA expression and NO secretion in human EPCs, therefore, shear stress could potentiate the repair efficacy of EPCs for endothelial injury.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

