周期性机械拉伸对类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞增殖的影响

目的探讨周期性机械拉伸对类风湿关节炎成纤维样滑膜细胞(RA-FLSs)增殖能力的影响。方法实验组细胞在周期性机械拉伸频率为1.0 Hz、拉伸幅度为3%、6%和9%的条件下,分别对RA-FLSs加载2、6和12 h。对照组细胞在保持与实验组培养条件一致的情况下不进行拉伸刺激。机械拉伸后,用流式细胞术和MTS检测细胞的增殖和活性。RT-PCR检测加载后细胞周期调控因子(CyclinD1、CyclinE1、CDK2、P27)在基因水平上的表达变化。结果 6%和9%的拉伸刺激持续作用6、12 h使RA-FLSs增殖和活性显著降低(P<0.05),同时CDK2和CyclinE1的mRNA表达降低,P27 mRNA的表达增高(P<0.05),周期性机械拉伸对CyclinD1表达的影响相对较小。结论周期性机械拉伸对RA-FLSs增殖能力的影响与拉伸强度以及持续的时间有关,6%和9%的机械拉伸刺激可以抑制RA-FLSs的增殖,而这种增殖抑制作用可能是通过调控CyclinE1,CDK2和P27的表达来实现的。本研究对于探讨力学刺激在类风湿性关节炎的发病机制以及临床防治中的作用具有一定意义。     

Differentiation of embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes in a compliant microfluidic system

The differentiation process of murine embryonic stem cells into cardiomyocytes was investigated with a compliant microfluidic platform which allows for versatile cell seeding arrangements, optical observation access, long-term cell viability, and programmable uniaxial cyclic stretch. Specifically, two environmental cues were examined with this platform—culture dimensions and uniaxial cyclic stretch. First, the cardiomyogenic differentiation process, assessed by a GFP reporter driven by the α-MHC promoter, was enhanced in microfluidic devices (μFDs) compared with conventional well-plates. The addition of BMP-2 neutralizing antibody reduced the enhancement observed in the μFDs and the addition of exogenous BMP-2 augmented the cardiomyogenic differentiation in well plates. Second, 24 h of uniaxial cyclic stretch at 1 Hz and 10% strain on day 9 of differentiation was found to have a negative impact on cardiomyogenic differentiation. This microfluidic platform builds upon an existing design and extends its capability to test cellular responses to mechanical strain. It provides capabilities not found in other systems for studying differentiation, such as seeding embryoid bodies in 2D or 3D in combination with cyclic strain. This study demonstrates that the microfluidic system contributes to enhanced cardiomyogenic differentiation and may be a superior platform compared with conventional well plates. In addition to studying the effect of cyclic stretch on cardiomyogenic differentiation, this compliant platform can also be applied to investigate other biological mechanisms.     

一种用于应变场三维细胞培养的组织工程支架

我们从组织工程化组织构建的角度 ,提出了一种可用于应变场细胞三维培养的组织工程支架。采用表面化学和材料力学方法 ,探讨了支架的组成、结构、表面特性、力学性质及细胞相容性。利用生物医用聚乙烯醇(PVA)耐水泡沫 ,表面裱衬生物可降解聚乳酸羟基乙酸共聚物 (PL GA)后 ,具有良好的表面特性和适宜的孔隙率 ,既能产生一定的弹性回缩 ,又具有良好的细胞相容性。结果表明 ,PVA耐水泡沫表面裱衬 PL GA为组织工程研究应变对细胞三维培养的影响提供了一种良好的三维支架。     

Mechanical tension as a driver of connective tissue growth in vitro

We propose the progressive mechanical expansion of cell-derived tissue analogues as a novel, growth-based approach to in vitro tissue engineering. The prevailing approach to producing tissue in vitro is to culture cells in an exogenous “scaffold” that provides a basic structure and mechanical support. This necessarily pre-defines the final size of the implantable material, and specific signals must be provided to stimulate appropriate cell growth, differentiation and matrix formation. In contrast, surgical skin expansion, driven by increments of stretch, produces increasing quantities of tissue without trauma or inflammation. This suggests that connective tissue cells have the innate ability to produce growth in response to elevated tension. We posit that this capacity is maintained in vitro, and that order-of-magnitude growth may be similarly attained in self-assembling cultures of cells and their own extracellular matrix.     

Microfluidic Encapsulation of Ovarian Follicles for 3D Culture

The ovarian follicle that contains one single oocyte is the fundamental functional tissue unit of mammalian ovary. Therefore, isolation and in vitro culture of ovarian follicles to obtain fertilizable oocytes are regarded as a promising strategy for women to combat infertility. In this communication, we performed a brief survey of studies on microfluidic encapsulation of ovarian follicles in core–shell hydrogel microcapsules for biomimetic 3D culture. These studies highlighted that recapitulation of the mechanical heterogeneity of the extracellular matrix in ovary is crucial for in vitro culture to develop early pre-antral follicles to the antral stage, and for the release of cumulus–oocyte complex (COC) from antral follicles in vitro. The hydrogel encapsulation-based biomimetic culture system and the microfluidic technology may be invaluable to facilitate follicle culture as a viable option for restoring women’s fertility in the clinic.     

Dynamic quantitative visualization of single cell alignment and migration and matrix remodeling in 3-D collagen hydrogels under mechanical force

We developed a live imaging system enabling dynamic visualization of single cell alignment induced by external mechanical force in a 3-D collagen matrix. The alignment dynamics and migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were studied by time lapse differential interference contrast and/or phase contrast microscopy. Fluorescent and reflection confocal microcopy were used to study the SMC morphology and the microscale collagen matrix remodeling induced by SMCs. A custom developed program was used to quantify the cell migration and matrix remodeling. Our system enables cell concentration-independent alignment eliminating cell-to-cell interference and enables dynamic cell tracking, high magnification observation and rapid cell alignment accomplished in a few hours compared to days in traditional models. We observed that cells sense and response to the mechanical signal before cell spreading. Under mechanical stretch the migration directionality index of SMCs is 46.3% more than those cells without external stretch; the dynamic direction of cell protrusion is aligned to that of the mechanical force; SMCs showed directional matrix remodeling and the alignment index calculated from the matrix in front of cell protrusions is about 3 fold of that adjacent to cell bodies. Our results indicate that the mechanism of cell alignment is directional cell protrusion. Mechano-sensing, directionality in cell protrusion dynamics, cell migration and matrix remodeling are highly integrated. Our system provides a platform for studying the role of mechanical force on the cell matrix interactions and thus finds strategies to optimize selected properties of engineered tissues.     

细胞外调节蛋白激酶信号通路参与机械牵张诱导肺泡上皮细胞高迁移率族蛋白B1的表达调控

目的 探讨细胞外调节蛋白激酶（ERK）信号通路在机械牵张诱导肺泡上皮细胞（A549）表达高迁移率族蛋白B1（HMGB1）中的作用。 方法 肺泡上皮细胞A549分为A、B、C 3组,A组为对照组;B组A549细胞施加14%牵张应变,牵张时间为4 h;C组细胞的牵张模式与B组相同,只是于施加牵张前用ERK的特异性抑制剂PD98059预处理A549细胞2h。分别用免疫细胞化学染色和RT-PCR检测细胞HMGB1蛋白和mRNA的表达,用Western blotting检测ERK激酶的活性。 结果 A549细胞施加14 %牵张应变后,HMGB1蛋白和mRNA表达明显增加,ERK激酶活性明显增高（P＜0.05）;该诱导激活作用可被PD98059阻断。 结论 机械牵张通过ERK信号通路,调节A549细胞的HMGB1基因和蛋白表达。     

核转录因子κB信号通路在应力调控成肌细胞分化中的作用

背景：NF-κB信号通路在细胞生长分化、炎症反应、肿瘤生长等过程中发挥重要的调节作用,也参与成肌细胞分化的调控。 目的：分析NF-κB信号通路在应力介导的C2C12成肌细胞分化中的作用及其作用机制。 方法：成功构建大鼠C2C12成肌细胞体外培养-力学刺激模型,采用多通道细胞牵张应力加载系统,以0.5 Hz的加载频率和10%的细胞拉伸变形幅度对细胞进行拉伸培养2,6,12,24 h。 结果与结论：①C2C12成肌细胞在周期性机械拉伸力作用下,NF-κB信号通路被激活。当细胞受到应力刺激6 h后,胞核NF-κB p65亚基蛋白表达水平开始增强,24 h内NF-κB p65亚基蛋白表达水平达到峰值。加力12,24 h组与未加力对照组之间差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。②IκBα蛋白表达水平在加力6 h后表达显著下降,24 h内IκBα蛋白表达水平减弱达到最低。加力12,24 h组与未加力对照组之间差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05)。③周期性张应力促进C2C12成肌细胞分化过程中Myogenin的表达,加入NF-κB信号通路特异性抑制剂吡咯烷二硫氨基甲酸 (20 μmol/L) 后再加力,Myogenin的表达明显降低。以上结果提示：①NF-κB信号通路可能参与应力介导的C2C12成肌细胞分化的调控过程。②当细胞受到应力刺激时,胞质IκBα发生磷酸化并降解。③NF-κB信号通路在应力介导的C2C12成肌细胞分化过程中发挥重要作用,但不是这一调控过程的惟一通路。     

周期性张应变作用下成骨细胞凋亡的体外研究

目的 研究机械周期性张应变对体外培养的成骨细胞凋亡的作用及其与细胞增殖和细胞分化之间的关系。方法 酶消化法分离培养新生SD大鼠颅顶骨成骨细胞,P2-P4代成骨细胞培养2d和4d后,用无血清培养法诱导成骨细胞凋亡,同时使用Flexcell 4000TM加力系统分别对细胞施加72h变形率为6%和13.6%的等轴循环牵张力。根据总培养时间分为5d和7d两组。运用流式细胞技术对成骨细胞凋亡水平进行检测,同时作细胞记数及碱性磷酸酶（ALP）蛋白含量检测。结果 与不加力的对照组相比,6%牵张力下5d组成骨细胞凋亡率下降了45%,成骨细胞数量增加了34%。在13.6%牵张力下7d组成骨细胞凋亡率增加了192%,细胞数量下降了64%。ALP活性在两种力值大小的牵张力刺激下均有下降。结论 周期性张应变对成骨细胞的凋亡有影响,不同力值大小的牵张力可通过促进或抑制细胞凋亡的方式调控成骨细胞的活性。     

Stretch-induced human myometrial cytokines enhance immune cell recruitment via endothelial activation

Spontaneous term labour is associated with amplified inflammatory events in the myometrium including cytokine production and leukocyte infiltration; however, potential mechanisms regulating such events are not fully understood. We hypothesized that mechanical stretch of the uterine wall by the growing fetus facilitates peripheral leukocyte extravasation into the term myometrium through the release of various cytokines by uterine myocytes. Human myometrial cells (hTERT-HM) were subjected to static mechanical stretch; stretch-conditioned media was collected and analysed using 48-plex Luminex assay and ELISA. Effect of stretch-conditioned media on cell adhesion molecule expression of human uterine microvascular endothelial cells (UtMVEC-Myo) was detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and flow cytometry; functional assays testing leukocyte–endothelial interactions: adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells and transendothelial migration of calcein-labelled primary human neutrophils as well as migration of THP-1 monocytic cells were assessed by fluorometry. The current in vitro study demonstrated that mechanical stretch (i) directly induces secretion of multiple cytokines and chemokines by hTERT-HM cells (IL-6, CXCL8, CXCL1, migration inhibitory factor (MIF), VEGF, G-CSF, IL-12p70, bFGF and platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (PDGF-bb), P<0.05); stretch-induced cytokines (ii) enhance leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium of the surrounding uterine microvasculature by (iii) inducing the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules and (iv) directing the transendothelial migration of peripheral leukocytes. (vi) Chemokine-neutralizing antibodies and broad-spectrum chemokine inhibitor block leukocyte migration. Our data provide a proof of mechanical regulation for leukocyte recruitment from the uterine blood vessels to the myometrium, suggesting a putative mechanism for the leukocyte infiltrate into the uterus during labour and postpartum involution.     

生物反应器的设计与组织工程肌腱的构建

目的设计一套生物反应器,能构建具有较好形态和机械力学性能的肌腱组织。方法根据肌腱细胞体内的生物和力学环境,建立了细胞和可降解材料复合物的力学模型,设计了一套能够模拟体内力学环境的生物反应器,采用鸡肌腱为种子细胞培养扩增后接种于聚羟基乙酸(PGA)材料上,形成细胞-材料复合物并置于反应器中培养。设静态培养对照组,通过实验取材进行大体观察、组织学和生物力学检测。结果生物反应器能够构建出具有一定组织结构和机械强度的肌腱。检测结果显示恒定交变应力作用下培养的肌腱优于静态培养的肌腱组织。结论细胞和可降解材料复合物的力学模型具有一定的正确性,通过分析也存在某些局限性;应力作用下可以促进肌腱细胞基质的分泌,蠕变特性成为促进胶原定向排列的重要因素。     

p38 MAPK在周期性机械牵张诱导肺泡巨噬细胞表达HMGB1中的作用

目的： 研究p38 MAPK在周期性机械牵张诱导肺泡巨噬细胞(AM)表达高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)中的作用。方法：大鼠AM随机分为A、B、C 3组,A组为对照组;B组细胞施加20%牵张应变,牵张时间为4 h;C组细胞的牵张模式与B组相同,在牵张前用p38 MAPK特异性抑制剂SB203580(40 μmol/L)预处理2 h。利用RT-PCR法检测HMGB1 mRNA的表达,Western blotting检测HMGB1蛋白表达和p38 MAPK的活性。结果：与对照组相比,AM施加20%牵张应变可诱导HMGB1蛋白和mRNA表达明显增加、p38 MAPK活性明显增高(均P<0.05),SB203580可显著抑制牵张应变的这种诱导作用(均P<0.05)。结论：周期性机械牵张可能通过p38 MAPK信号通路,调节肺泡巨噬细胞HMGB1 mRNA和蛋白的表达。     

Effects of heat stress and mechanical stretch on protein expression in cultured skeletal muscle cells

Effects of heat stress, mechanical stretching or a combination of both on the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and total protein level were studied in a culture system. Rat skeletal muscle cells (L6) were cultured on flexible-bottomed culture plates. They were subjected to one of the four following conditions: (1) 97 h incubation at 37 °C, (2) 1 h incubation at 41 °C followed by 96 h incubation at 37 °C, (3) 1 h incubation at 37 °C followed by 96 h cyclic stretching (18% of initial length, 2-s stretch and 4-s release) at 37 °C or (4) 1 h incubation at 41 °C followed by 96 h cyclic stretching at 37 °C. The expression of HSP72 and HSP90 and total protein was determined in the crude homogenates, supernatant and pellets. Cellular protein concentrations in the homogenates and pellets were increased by heat stress and/or mechanical stress (stretch). A cumulative effect of the combination of heating and stretch on the protein concentration in the homogenates and in the pellets was noted. The expressions of HSP72 and HSP90 in the pellets were also increased by heat stress and/or stretch. However, HSP90 in the supernatant did not change following heat stress and/or stretch. The regulation of HSP72 and HSP90 expression in skeletal muscle cells may be closely related to total protein, the abundance of which is also stimulated by mechanical and heat stresses. These observations suggest strongly that heating and passive stretch of muscle may be useful as a means of increasing muscle mass, not only in athletes but also in patients during rehabilitation.     

周期性机械牵拉通过上调Runx2表达促进MC3T3-E1细胞迁移

目的 探究周期性牵拉对小鼠胚胎成骨细胞MC3T3-E1迁移功能的影响及其相关机制。方法 使用应变加载系统对体外培养的MC3T3-E1细胞施加15%幅度的牵拉,模拟细胞体内受力情况。使用划痕愈合实验检测MC3T3-E1细胞的迁移功能,使用蛋白免疫印迹法检测Runx2表达情况,使用RNA干扰技术特异性降低Runx2表达量。结果 幅度15%、频率1.25 Hz、持续24 h的周期性机械牵拉可以促进MC3T3-E1细胞的迁移,升高细胞内Runx2表达水平。在静态培养条件下,干扰Runx2能抑制MC3T3-E1细胞的迁移。干扰MC3T3-E1细胞中Runx2表达可以部分降低机械牵拉对细胞迁移的促进效应。结论 周期性牵拉可以促进MC3T3-E1细胞的迁移,在此过程中Runx2可能发挥重要作用。研究结果为寻找促进骨折愈合的创新临床治疗方法提供实验依据。     

Intermediate filament-deficient cells are mechanically softer at large deformation: A multi-scale simulation study

The cell’s cytoskeleton, providing cells with structure and shape, consists of different structural proteins, including microtubules, actin microfilaments and intermediate filaments. It has been suggested that intermediate filaments play a crucial role in providing mechanical stability to cells. By utilizing a simple coarse-grained computational model of the intermediate filament network in eukaryotic cells, we show here that intermediate filaments play a significant role in the cell mechanical behavior at large deformation, and reveal mechanistic insight into cell deformation under varying intermediate filament densities. We find that intermediate filament-deficient cells display an altered mechanical behavior, featuring a softer mechanical response at large deformation while the mechanical properties remain largely unchanged under small deformation. We compare the results with experimental studies in vimentin-deficient cells, showing good qualitative agreement. Our results suggest that intermediate filaments contribute to cell stiffness and deformation at large deformation, and thus play a significant role in maintaining cell structural integrity in response to applied stress and strain, in agreement with earlier hypotheses. The simulation results also suggest that changes in the filament density result in profound alterations of the deformation state of the cell nucleus, leading to greater stretch in the direction of loading and greater contraction in the orthogonal direction as the intermediate filament density is increased. Our model opens the door to future studies to investigate disease states, the effects of amino acid mutations and how structural changes at different levels in the cell’s structural makeup influence biomechanical properties.     

Down regulation of TRPC1 by shRNA reduces mechanosensitivity in mouse dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro

Mechanosensitivity is a crucial but poorly understood property of the sensory nervous system. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, which have been found to be responsible for the detection of other sensory stimuli such as temperature and pungent chemicals, have been suggested to also recognize stretch or pressure to cell membranes. TRPC1 is one candidate from studies in oocytes but evidence in native sensory neurons has been lacking. Therefore, we have measured an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels upon mechanical activation of native mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in culture using hypoosmolar buffer. Our results show that down regulation of TRPC1 with short hairpin RNA results in a 65% reduction of neurons with stretch activated responses. These results implicate a direct or indirect involvement of TRPC1 in the mechanosensitivity of DRG neurons.     

Inhibition of EGFR signaling abrogates smooth muscle proliferation resulting from sustained distension of the urinary bladder

Urinary bladder outlet obstruction results in sustained stretch of the detrusor muscle and can lead to pathological smooth muscle hyperplasia and hypertrophy. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a cognate receptor for mitogens implicated in bladder hyperplasia/hypertrophy. Here, we investigated the potential for modulation of this pathway by pharmacologic targeting with a clinically available EGFR antagonist using an organ culture model of bladder stretch injury as a test system. Urinary bladders from adult female rats were distended in vivo with medium containing the EGFR inhibitor ZD1839 (gefitinib, Iressa). The bladders were excised and incubated in ex vivo organ culture for 4-24 h. EGFR phosphorylation, DNA proliferation, and the extent of apoptosis in the cultured tissues were assessed. To verify that the smooth muscle cells (SMC) are a target of the EGFR inhibitor, primary culture human and rat bladder SMC were subjected to cyclic mechanical stretch in vitro in the presence of ZD1839. Levels of phosphorylated EGFR were significantly increased in the detrusor muscle with 12 h of stretch in the organ cultures. This activation coincided with a subsequent 23-fold increase in DNA synthesis and a 30-fold decrease in apoptosis in the muscle compartment at 24 h. In the presence of ZD1839, DNA synthesis was reduced to basal levels without an increase in the rate of apoptosis under ex vivo conditions. Mechanical stretch of bladder SMC in vitro resulted in a significant increase in DNA synthesis, which was completely abrogated by treatment with ZD1839 but not by AG825, an inhibitor of the related receptor, ErbB2. Our results indicate that the EGFR pathway is a physiologically relevant signaling mechanism in hypertrophic bladder disease resulting from mechanical distension and may be amenable to pharmacologic intervention.     

Molecular interference of fibrin's divalent polymerization mechanism enables modulation of multiscale material properties

Protein based polymers provide an exciting and complex landscape for tunable natural biomaterials through modulation of molecular level interactions. Here we demonstrate the ability to modify protein polymer structural and mechanical properties at multiple length scales by molecular ‘interference’ of fibrin's native polymerization mechanism. We have previously reported that engagement of fibrin's polymerization ‘hole b’, also known as ‘b-pockets’, through PEGylated complementary ‘knob B’ mimics can increase fibrin network porosity but also, somewhat paradoxically, increase network stiffness. Here, we explore the possible mechanistic underpinning of this phenomenon through characterization of the effects of knob B-fibrin interaction at multiple length scales from molecular to bulk polymer. Despite its weak monovalent binding affinity for fibrin, addition of both knob B and PEGylated knob B at concentrations near the binding coefficient, K_d, increased fibrin network porosity, consistent with the reported role of knob B-hole b interactions in promoting lateral growth of fibrin fibers. Addition of PEGylated knob B decreases the extensibility of single fibrin fibers at concentrations near its K_d but increases extensibility of fibers at concentrations above its K_d. The data suggest this bimodal behavior is due to the individual contributions knob B, which decreases fiber extensibility, and PEG, which increase fiber extensibility. Taken together with laser trap-based microrheological and bulk rheological analyses of fibrin polymers, our data strongly suggests that hole b engagement increases in single fiber stiffness that translates to higher storage moduli of fibrin polymers despite their increased porosity. These data point to possible strategies for tuning fibrin polymer mechanical properties through modulation of single fiber mechanics.     

Cell culture of the normal human mammary gland cultivated in monolayer – A mini systematic review

The mammary glands are constituted of different cell types. For example, the epithelial cells appear as the target in many studies since they produce and secrete milk during lactation and are the origin of many human breast cancers. Mammary gland biology is characterized by dynamic tissue growth, function and regression phases, which are understood mainly due to tissue culture studies. Cell culture is probably one of the most used in vitro scientific models, and the most common research model is still the two-dimensional (2D) culture system. Different approaches and conditions have been tested and used to improve the isolation, growth, yield and maintenance of viability of mammary gland cells. Therefore, our study aimed to explore and summarize the cell culture techniques with normal human mammary gland cells cultured in a monolayer. A search strategy was conducted using the electronic databases ‘PubMed’, ‘Scopus’ and ‘Virtual Health Library’. The search was carried out using the keywords ‘cell culture’ and ‘mammary gland’ and ‘human’. The main search was carried out by two authors between July and August 2021. In addition, we performed a review matrix elaborated in a spreadsheet to organize and systematize information about each article for inclusion. A total of 11 studies were included in the review and have conducted qualitative analyses on them. Although studies of these cells have been reported since the 1970 s, most found are from the last decade and are largely carried out in the USA. In addition, it was possible to verify the Human Mammary Epithelial Cells (HMEC) primary culture obtained from breast surgery as the main cell type studied. These cells are cultivated in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) and M87A medium with diverse supplements. Finally, there was a diversity in the use of dissociation reagents and a lack of information about cryopreservation. We have observed detailed methodological information about these study models, which would propose further investigations.     

A device for subjecting vascular endothelial cells to both fluid shear stress and circumferential cyclic stretch

The proposal of the role of mechanical forces as a localizing factor of atherosclerosis has led many researchers to investigate their effects on vascular endothelial cells. Most previous efforts have concentrated on either the fluid shear stress, which results from the flow of blood, or the circumferential “hoop” stretch, which results from the expansion of the artery during the cardiac cycle. In fact, arterial endothelial cells are subjected to both fluid shear stress and cyclic hoop stretchin vivo. Therefore, a more complete investigation of mechanical phenomena on endothelial cell behavior should include both kinds of mechanical stimuli. This study was undertaken to design an experimental apparatus that could subject cultured vascular endothelial cells to simultaneous physiologic levels of both shear stress and cyclic hoop stretch. The experimental apparatus consists of four cylindrical elastic tubes so that the following conditions may be studied: (a) static conditions; (b) shear stress only; (c) hoop stretch only; and (d) shear stress and hoop stretch. In order to establish the functional capabilities of the apparatus, bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells were cultured in the tubes, and their morphology and f-actin structur were observed with confocal microscopy. The cells remained healthy and attached to the walls throughout the 24 hr experiment. Preliminary results indicated that the alignment of endothelial cells subjected to shear stress was significantly enhanced by the addition of hoop strain.