Potential Dependent Endothelial Cell Adhesion, Growth and Cytoskeletal Rearrangements

Abstract

AbstractNormal endothelial cells (ECs), lining the blood vessels, are influenced by their interaction with the underlying potentially piezoelectric extracellular matrix (ECM). That this interaction may affect the EC metabolic state and functions in vivo prompted us to study the subsequent response of cultured ECs on indium-tin oxide (ITO) glass electrodes subjected to 1 hr of constant DC surface potential ranging from -0.3 to +0.6 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). We measured, relative to controls, cellular viability, growth rate and changes in actin microfilament organization in ECs over a subsequent 6 days in culture. The growth rate of ECs was stimulated by negative potential and inhibited by positive potential. Differences could be detected as early as three days post-potential. We also observed a potential dependent cellular shape change and actin microfilament rearrangement at positive potentials within four days of treatment. ECs changed in average cell surface area and assumed a polygonal cell shape in response to treatment. Using NBD-phalloidin stain for actin and fluorescence microscopy, microfilaments were observed to re-distribute to the periphery of the cell at positive potential, indicative of cellular stress.