Fig. 4

Differential expression of EndMT and cell adhesion markers by oscillatory flow in microvascular endothelial cells. A mRNA expression of genes coding for SNAI1, SNAI2, Calponin1, Transgelin, integrin α9 subunit, integrin β1 subunit, VE-cadherin, and N-cadherin upon exposure of hCMEC/d3 to oscillatory flow (n = 3). The mRNA expression folds of SNAI1, SNAI2 (Slug), Calponin1, transgelin, integrin α9 subunit, and N-cadherin were significantly higher after exposure to oscillatory flow for 24 h. Integrin β1 subunit and VE-cadherin were found to be downregulated in cells exposed to oscillatory flow. mRNA fold values were calculated relative to static control. All data were normalized with GAPDH expression and are given as relative to static control. B hCMEC/d3 exposed to oscillatory flow for 24 h increased nuclear SNAI1/2 and N-cadherin expression, while integrin α9/β1 was highly downregulated, indicating active EndMT and reduced cell adhesion among cells exposed to oscillatory flow (scale bar 20 µM, magnification ×40). C Mean fluorescence intensity was plotted as the average fluorescence intensity ± SD of five fields per flow condition and from three biological replicates. PF indicates parallel uniform shear stress and OF represents oscillatory shear stress. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001 versus respective static or parallel uniform shear-treated groups. ns not significant