Biomécanique cardiovasculaire

What is the impact of cell shape on vascular cell mechanotransduction?

Why ?

- Blood vessels are lined by specialized cells that are constantly exposed to blood-flow-derived forces.
- These endothelial cells can sense and respond to forces: this is called mechanotransduction.
- During atherosclerosis development, elongated cell shape correlates with regions that are protected from disease.

Methods

We study experimentally the cell response to flow-derived forces as a function of cell shape.

Control cell shape using patterned surface

Apply controlled forces

Follow cell response dynamically

Results

Shape control of cultured endothelial cells.