The team of Stephane Zaffran has collaborated with the team of Valerie Deplano (IRPHE, CNRS UMR7342, Marseille) to develop and use a unique fluid activation device that applies physiologically relevant pulsatile wall shear stress. In this study we characterized the morphology and function of adult porcine aortic valvular endothelial cells derived from the opposite sides of aortic valve leaflets following exposure to different pulsatile wall shear stress. We found that elongation and orientation of cells in response to pulsatile wall shear stress depends on their side of origin. Quantification of gene expression confirms phenotypic differences between aortic and ventricular valvular endothelial cells. This work opens a new avenue on our understanding on why we observe side-specificity of valve disease such as calcification.
Faure et al., Side-dependent effect in the response of valve endothelial cells to bidirectional shear stress. Int J Cardiol (2020) DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.08.074