Effects of fluid shear stress on expression of proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-myc in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

摘要

The objective of our research was to reveal the effects of different shear stresses on the expression of proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-myc in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). A parallel plate flow chamber was used to control the value and duration of shear stress (SS), and the expression of c-fos and c-myc protein was measured by immunocytochemistry methods and image analysis software. Some important conclusions were drawn. In the stationary state, c-fos protein levels were very low. The SS's of 4 dyn/cm(2) and 10 dyn/cm(2) induced rapid increases of c-fos protein levels, especially the SS of 10 dyn/cm(2). The levels peaked at 1.0 h. Then, c-fos protein levels began to decrease, after 2.5 h, they declined to almost basal levels. In the stationary state, the c-myc protein levels were also very low slowly increasing after the onset of shear stress. The effects of 4 dyn/cm(2) and 10 dyn/cm(2) SS on c-myc protein expression levels had no difference and apparently were less than the effect on c-fos protein levels. The c-myc protein levels peaked at 1.5 h. Subsequently, they fell to basal levels at 2.5 h. Increased expression of these proto-oncogenes mediated by shear stress may have important effects on the regulation of critical cell activities, such as proliferation and differentiation.