Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Implications of year 1 Trump Administration policies for Americans' lung health.

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine·2026

Same author

How Platform Trials Work.

NEJM evidence·2026

Same author

Anatomical Determinants of Tracheal Breathing Sounds: A Computational Study of Airway Narrowing and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Imaging the extracellular matrix structure and remodeling in healthy, fibrotic, and emphysematous human precision-cut lung slices.

Respiratory research·2025

Same author

How Minimal Clinically Important Difference Works.

NEJM evidence·2025

Same author

Public Health Alerts - A New Section in <i>NEJM Evidence</i>, in Partnership with CIDRAP.

NEJM evidence·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

The Assembly and Application of 'Shear Rings': A Novel Endothelial Model for Orbital, Unidirectional and Periodic Fluid Flow and Shear Stress

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, intercellular stress, and endothelial cell alignment.

Robert Steward¹, Dhananjay Tambe², C Corey Hardin³

¹T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts;

American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology

|February 6, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Laminar fluid flow reduces intercellular stress and promotes alignment in endothelial cells. This stress reduction and alignment precede cell body alignment, improving barrier integrity.

Keywords:

cell alignment endothelial cell intercellular stress laminar fluid shear tractions

More Related Videos

Electrophysiological Recordings of Single-cell Ion Currents Under Well-defined Shear Stress

Electrophysiological Recordings of Single-cell Ion Currents Under Well-defined Shear Stress

Published on: August 2, 2019

Gene Expression Analysis of Endothelial Cells Exposed to Shear Stress Using Multiple Parallel-plate Flow Chambers

Gene Expression Analysis of Endothelial Cells Exposed to Shear Stress Using Multiple Parallel-plate Flow Chambers

Published on: October 21, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 17, 2026

The Assembly and Application of 'Shear Rings': A Novel Endothelial Model for Orbital, Unidirectional and Periodic Fluid Flow and Shear Stress

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

Electrophysiological Recordings of Single-cell Ion Currents Under Well-defined Shear Stress

Electrophysiological Recordings of Single-cell Ion Currents Under Well-defined Shear Stress

Published on: August 2, 2019

Gene Expression Analysis of Endothelial Cells Exposed to Shear Stress Using Multiple Parallel-plate Flow Chambers

Gene Expression Analysis of Endothelial Cells Exposed to Shear Stress Using Multiple Parallel-plate Flow Chambers

Published on: October 21, 2018

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Vascular Biology

Background:

Endothelial cell alignment to laminar flow is key for vascular homeostasis.
Intercellular stresses during flow have been poorly understood.
The role of these stresses in cell alignment remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To measure intercellular stresses and tractions in endothelial cells under laminar flow.
To investigate the role of these stresses in endothelial cell alignment.
To elucidate the dynamics of stress and cell body alignment.

Main Methods:

Monolayer traction microscopy
Monolayer stress microscopy
Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) monolayer subjected to 1 Pa laminar fluid shear

Main Results:

Intercellular stresses decreased from 317 ± 122 Pa to 142 ± 84 Pa within 12 h of flow.
Tractions and stresses aligned with flow within 1 h.
Endothelial cell body alignment occurred more slowly (12 h).

Conclusions:

Laminar flow rapidly reduces and aligns intercellular stresses.
Cell body alignment follows stress alignment with a delay.
Reduced intercellular stress enhances endothelial barrier integrity.