Fluid shear stress increases the expression of thrombomodulin by cultured human endothelial cells

Endothelial cells (ECs) cultured from human umbilical vein were exposed to medium flow in a flow-loading chamber, and changes in thrombomodulin (TM) expression were examined by flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay with monoclonal antibody. The expression of TM antigen was increased time- and shear stress-dependently by flow, and when exposed to a shear stress of 15 dynes/cm2 for 24 hr, it increased to approximately 200% of the stationary control level. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed that TM mRNA levels in ECs also increased in response to flow. TM mRNA began to increase one hour after the application of shear stress of 15 dynes/cm2 and reached a maximum (approximately 330% of stationary control) after eight hours. These results, demonstrating an up-regulating effect of flow on TM expression in ECs, suggest that shear stress may be an important modulator of intravascular blood coagulation.