In order to establish a functional endothelium for tissue engineered arteries, we developed a novel co-culture model in which human endothelial cells (EC) form a confluent monolayer on quiescent smooth muscle cells (SMC). The co-culture model is a simplified representation of a blood vessel that permits rapid and efficient examination of a large number of experimental variables. Strong adhesion develops between EC and SMC, SMC are more differentiated in co-culture, and human co-cultures can be maintained for as long as 30 days. Integrins play an important role in endothelial force transduction. Our preliminary data suggest that EC cultured on extracellular matrix produced by SMC produce fibrillar adhesions rather than focal adhesions observed when ECs adhere to rigid substrates. Further, EC in co-culture show a reduced oxidative and inflammatory state relative to EC cultured on plastic suggesting a shift in the type of adhesion and integrins involved during co-culture may affect the function of endothelium. The shift in the type of adhesion can influence integrins involved in adhesion during co- culture and the subsequent function of ECs. To properly design tissue engineered vessels that produce appropriate EC function, it is necessary to understand the effect of EC adhesion to the matrix overlying SMC upon EC function following exposure to flow. Thus, we will test the hypotheses that (1) in co-culture, fibrillar adhesion formation and the elastic modulus of SMCs influence specific extracellular matrix proteins and integrins involved in EC adhesion;(2) fibrillar adhesions promote an anti-inflammatory and anti- thrombotic EC phenotype under static and flow conditions by regulating the level of the transcription factor KLF2, and (3) a combination of co-culture and pulsatile shear stresses lowers the permeability of endothelium by reducing the formation of actin stress fibers with fibrillar adhesions.
Specific aims of the project are to: (1) identify integrins and adhesion molecules involved in fibrillar and focal adhesion formation between EC and SMC in co-culture;(2) determine the importance of SMC elasticity and fibrillar adhesions upon EC adhesion and function;(3) determine the effect of fibrillar adhesions upon the response of co-cultured EC to flow;and (4) determine the effect of long-term flow upon EC permeability in co-culture. These studies will provide important new information about EC and SMC function interactions that can influence the design of tissue-engineered blood vessels. Endothelial Cell Adhesion &Function on Smooth Muscle There is considerable need for new sources of blood vessels to repair or replace vessels damaged by atherosclerosis. Tissue engineering represents one such opportunity. The proposed research will examine the manner in which the cells that line arteries and veins (endothelial cells) attach and function on surfaces produced by smooth muscle cells. The studies will provide new insights into the manner in which these two cells of the vessel wall interact and provide a cell culture system to facilitate development of tissue- engineered arteries.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL088825-02
Application #
7576823
Study Section
Bioengineering, Technology and Surgical Sciences Study Section (BTSS)
Program Officer
Larkin, Jennie E
Project Start
2008-03-01
Project End
2012-02-28
Budget Start
2009-03-01
Budget End
2010-02-28
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$273,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Peters, Erica B; Liu, Betty; Christoforou, Nicolas et al. (2015) Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mononuclear Cells Exhibit Pericyte-Like Phenotype and Support Network Formation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells In Vitro. Ann Biomed Eng 43:2552-68
Cheung, Tracy M; Yan, Jessica B; Fu, Justin J et al. (2015) Endothelial Cell Senescence Increases Traction Forces due to Age-Associated Changes in the Glycocalyx and SIRT1. Cell Mol Bioeng 8:63-75
Cheung, Tracy M; Ganatra, Mansi P; Fu, Justin J et al. (2013) The Effect of Stress-Induced Senescence on Aging Human Cord Blood-Derived Endothelial Cells. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 4:220-230
Peters, Erica B; Christoforou, Nicolas; Leong, Kam W et al. (2013) Comparison of mixed and lamellar coculture spatial arrangements for tissue engineering capillary networks in vitro. Tissue Eng Part A 19:697-706
Cheung, Tracy M; Ganatra, Mansi P; Peters, Erica B et al. (2012) Effect of cellular senescence on the albumin permeability of blood-derived endothelial cells. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 303:H1374-83
Khismatullin, Damir B; Truskey, George A (2012) Leukocyte rolling on P-selectin: a three-dimensional numerical study of the effect of cytoplasmic viscosity. Biophys J 102:1757-66
Cao, Li; Wu, Andrew; Truskey, George A (2011) Biomechanical effects of flow and coculture on human aortic and cord blood-derived endothelial cells. J Biomech 44:2150-7
Angelos, Mathew G; Brown, Melissa A; Satterwhite, Lisa L et al. (2010) Dynamic adhesion of umbilical cord blood endothelial progenitor cells under laminar shear stress. Biophys J 99:3545-54
Wallace, Charles S; Truskey, George A (2010) Direct-contact co-culture between smooth muscle and endothelial cells inhibits TNF-alpha-mediated endothelial cell activation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 299:H338-46
Truskey, George A (2010) Endothelial Cell Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Co-Culture Assay For High Throughput Screening Assays For Discovery of Anti-Angiogenesis Agents and Other Therapeutic Molecules. Int J High Throughput Screen 2010:171-181

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