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On-Chip Endothelial Inflammatory Phenotyping
Published on: July 21, 2012
Endothelial cell polarization and chemotaxis in a microfluidic device
Amir Shamloo1, Ning Ma, Mu-Ming Poo
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|July 25, 2008
Summary
Directed endothelial cell migration is crucial for new blood vessel formation. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) require both vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentration and gradient steepness to polarize and migrate effectively.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Angiogenesis Research
Background:
- Endothelial cell migration is vital for angiogenesis.
- Understanding cell behavior in response to growth factors is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) polarization and chemotaxis.
- To examine HUVEC response to quantified vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gradients.
Main Methods:
- Developed a microfluidic device to create stable biomolecule gradients.
- Used finite element simulation to validate VEGF concentration distribution.
- Observed HUVEC behavior under varying VEGF concentrations and gradients.
Main Results:
- HUVEC exhibited chemotaxis towards higher VEGF concentrations with a steep gradient (14 ng/mL/mm).
- Shallow gradients (2 ng/mL/mm) did not induce chemotaxis.
- VEGF exposure increased filopodia; steep gradients induced asymmetric filopodia distribution and cell polarization.
Conclusions:
- VEGF-induced chemotaxis requires both absolute concentration and gradient steepness.
- Gradient steepness is critical for cell polarization and directed migration.
- The microfluidic device is suitable for studying shear-sensitive cells and migration.
