OBJECTIVETo observe the distribution and expression changes of caveolin-1 under shear stress in a turbulence flow channel model mimicking susceptible sites of atherosclerosis in vitro.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were inoculated to flow channel and then exposed to disturbed shear stress for 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours, respectively. HUVECs inoculated to flow channel without shear stress served as controls. Immunofluorescence staining was performed with SABC-FITC to detect the caveolin-1 distribution and RT-PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression of caveolin-1 gene in these cells.

RESULTSConfocal microcopy revealed ellipse-like shaped HUVECs under disturbed shear stress and caveolin-1 didn't move toward to the upstream edge of HUVECs but moved toward to the edge of HUVECs, and expression of caveolin-1 gene in HUVECs was significantly downregulated after exposure to shear stress for 48 hours compared to HUVECs without shear stress stimulation.

CONCLUSIONDisturbed shear stress affected disposition and expression of caveolin-1 which might be responsible for shear stress induced endothelial cell pathological atherosclerotic changes.