SHEAR-STRESS INDUCES EXPRESSION OF CNP GENE IN HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

To elucidate the effect of blood flow on gene transcription of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to shear stress in a cone-plate viscometer, Expression of CNP mRNA, evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, w as markedly increased by exposure to shear stress of 24 dyne/cm(2) at 3 h, The CNP mRNA level was maintained until 12 h. Thus, the present s tudy demonstrated for the first time that shear stress induces express ion of CNP gene in human endothelial cells.