Abstract 18240: Fluid Shear Stress Regulates Expression of Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 Through Mechanosensors in Endothelial Cells

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs), which form the innermost layer of blood vessels, are exposed to fluid shear stress that modulates endothelial function and vascular pathophysiology. Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) plays an important role in endothelial dysfunction and progression of atherosclerosis. However, expression patterns and regulatory mechanisms in ECs under different fluid shear stress (FSS) have remained unclear. We demonstrated the expression pattern of LOX-1 by comparing the normal laminar shear stress (LSS), extremely high LSS and oscillatory shear stress (OSS). Confluent human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to a unidirectional steady flow for normal LSS (shear stress of 20 dyne/cm2) or extremely high LSS (shear stress of 120 dyne/cm2), and a bidirectional disturbed flow (shear stress of ± 5 dyne/cm2) for OSS, under various time periods. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses in ECs showed that OSS has upregulated LOX-1 expression in both pro...