This study investigated nitric oxide (NO) production and phenotype changes of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in a cocultured model (CM) exposed to fluid shear stress. The CM was composed of human umbilical endothelial cells (EC) and SMC, a collagen layer, and a porous membrane. After exposing the CM to shear stress of 1.5 Pa for 24 hours, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression of SMC and NO production in culture media were examined. Under static conditions, α-SMA expression in the CM was significantly lower than that of a SMC monocultured model (SMC model). After exposure to shear stress, NO production in the CM increased compared to that in the static CM, and there was no significant difference in α-SMA expression between the CM and SMC model. These results suggest that EC may regulate phenotype changes of cocultured SMC, and NO may be one of the factors which induce dedifferentiation of SMC.

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