Vascular endothelial cell growth factor expression in endothelial cells is induced by mechanical wounding

摘要

Endothelial cell motility is central to several biological processes including angiogenesis during wound healing, reendothelialization of vessel walls after damage and neovascularization of tumors. However, control mechanisms that simulate and inhibit cell movement are not known. Our objective is to understand the signals that initiate movement of endothelial cells. To examine these questions, we used an in vitro wound model of quiescent pulmonary artery endothelial cell monolayers which were stimulated to move by mechanical injury.