Differential immediate-early gene responses to shear stress and intraluminal pressure in intact human conduit vessels

We have previously shown distinct effects of shear stress and pressure on t ranscription of several potent vascular mediators, In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that c-jun and c-fos are regulated differentially by shear and pressure. Intact human umbilical veins were perfused with variou s combinations of shear acid pressure during 1.5, 3 and 6 h. Protein and ge ne expressions were assessed by immunofluorescence and real-time reverse tr anscription PCR, respectively. Shear stress and pressure exert differential temporal effects on c-jun and c-fos gene and protein expression, and these immediate-early gene responses appear to be cell-type specific for endothe lial and smooth muscle cells. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical S ocieties. Published by Elsevier Science B.V, All rights reserved.