Background: Recent study suggested that endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), a novel therapeutic approach for endothelial dysfunction, present limited antithrombogenic potentials. However, few attempts have been done to improve the antithrombogenic potentials of EPCs. Our previous study proved that in vitro shear stress contributes to the increase in t-PA production by human EPCs. Here, we further investigated whether in vitro shear stress contributes to the secretion of antithrombogenic substances including plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and prostaglandin I(2) (PGI(2)) by human EPCs.
Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy subjects were induced into EPCs. Then the human EPCs were treated with four levels of shear stress including stationary condition low media and high flow shear stress. The production of PAI-1 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1(1alpha)(6-Keto-PGF(1alpha)) by human EPCs with shear stress treatment were measured.
Results: In vitro medium and high flow shear stress inhibited PAI-1 secretion by human EPCs, but low flow shear stress had no effect on PAI-1 secretion by human EPCs. All levels of shear stress significantly increased 6-Keto-PGF(1alpha )production by human EPCs in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that in vitro shear stress can promote PGI(2 )secretion and inhibit PAI-1 secretion by human EPCs, which improves the antithrombogenic potentials of human EPCs.