Microarray Analysis of Mechanically Induced Gene Expression in Vascular Cells: Implications for Tissue Engineered Arteries

摘要

Cells that are used in tissue engineered constructs function more physiologically if the mechanical environment to which they are subjected in vivo is mimicked during construct formation in vitro. Gene expression is the first measurement one can make which predicts the functional state of the cells. The normal gene expression profiles during vasculogenesis are now being determined by developmental biologists. DNA microarrays provide a global picture of gene expression, which will be used in the future to assay the condition of cells in tissue engineered organs and to compare to the normal developmental profile for these tissues. Mechanical forces are a major determinant for cell phenotype.