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Racial differences in the responses to shear stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Authors Feairheller D, Park, Rizzo, Kim, Brown M

Published 11 July 2011 Volume 2011:7 Pages 425—431

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S22435

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 7



Deborah L Feairheller1,4, Joon-Young Park2, Victor Rizzo3, Boa Kim2, Michael D Brown1,3
1
Hypertension, Molecular and Applied Physiology Laboratory, 2Cardiovascular Genomics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, 3Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; 4Exercise and Metabolic Disease Research Laboratory, School of Nursing, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Background: African American ethnicity is an independent risk factor for exaggerated oxidative stress, which is related to inflammation, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Recently, we reported that in vitro oxidative stress and inflammation levels differ between African American and Caucasian human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), African American HUVECs having higher levels of both. However, it remains to be shown whether the cells would respond differently to external stimuli.
Methods: We used a cone and plate viscometer to apply laminar shear stress (LSS) as an aerobic exercise mimetic to compare the responses by race. HUVECs were exposed to static conditions (no LSS), low LSS (5 dyne/cm2), and moderate LSS (20 dyne/cm2).
Results: It was found that African American HUVECs had higher levels of oxidative stress under static conditions, and when LSS was applied protein expression levels (NADPH oxidase NOX2, NOX4 and p47phox subunits, eNOS, SOD2, and catalase) and biomarkers (NO, SOD, and total antioxidant capacity) were modulated to similar levels between race.
Conclusion: African American HUVECs may be more responsive to LSS stimulus indicating that aerobic exercise prescriptions may be valuable for this population since the potential exists for large in vivo improvements in oxidative stress levels along the endothelial layer in response to increased shear flow.

Keywords: shear stress, African American, NADPH oxidase, HUVECs, oxidative stress

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