A theoretical model of the endothelial cell morphology due to different waveforms

Abstract

Endothelial cells are key units in the regulatory biological process of blood vessels. They represent an interface to transmit variations on the fluid dynamic changes. They are able to adapt its cytoskeleton, by means of microtubules reorientation and F-actin reorganization, due to new mechanical environments. Moreover, they are responsible for initiate a huge cascade of biological processes, such as the release of endothelins (ET-1), in charge of the constriction of the vessel and growth factors such as TGF − β and PDGF. Although a huge effort have been made in the experimental characterization and description of these two issues the computational modeling have not gain such a attention. In this work we propose a 3D model for cytoskeleton cells and a computational approach to, based on its mechanical environment, adapt or remodel its internal structure. We found our model fit with the experimental works presented before, both in the remodeling of the cell structure. We include our model within a computational fluid dynamic model in a carotid artery to quantify endothelial cell remodeling. Moreover, our approach can be coupled with models of collagen and smooth muscle cell growth, where remodeling and the associated release of chemical substance are involved.

A multiscale modelling approach to understand atherosclerosis formation: A patient-specific case study in the aortic bifurcation

“…As previously mentioned, Sáez et al 26 presented the 3D remodelling of endothelial cells as the combined effect of OSI and TAWSS in a computational framework, which fitted experimental works presented before in in vitro studies.…”

“…However, as previously mentioned, recent work shows that ECSI can be affected by other indices as well , such as OSI. Based on the seminal paper by Levesque et al, 25 a more recent work from Sáez et al 26 presented how a combination of OSI and TAWSS modifies the endothelial cell shape. This relationship will be the key for the modelling work presented here.…”

Development of a Patient-Specific Multi-Scale Model to Understand Atherosclerosis and Calcification Locations: Comparison with In vivo Data in an Aortic Dissection

“…A number of studies (Malek et al, 1999 ; Xiang et al, 2010 ; Chiu and Chien, 2011 ; Meng et al, 2014 ) have shown that regions with low average shear stress combined with highly oscillatory shear stress have increased endothelial permeability along with other pathological responses. More recently, Sáez et al ( 2015 ) presented the 3D remodeling of endothelial cells as the combined effect of OSI and TAWSS in a computational framework, which fitted experimental works presented before in in vitro studies.…”

“…However, as previously mentioned, recent work shows that ECSI can be affected by other indices as well , such as OSI. Based on the seminal paper by Levesque et al ( 1986 ), excellent work from Sáez et al ( 2015 ), presents how different OSI and TAWSS modify the endothelial cell shape. This combined relationship will be key for the modeling work presented here.…”

“…Figure 1 shows a comparison of normalized ECSI using Saez et al results (Sáez et al, 2015 ), which are dependent on TAWSS and OSI, with the normalized ECSI using Equation (6) and HOLMES. Very similar behavior can be seen in both surfaces, showing how areas of low TAWSS and high OSI will increase the values of ECSI.…”