ffects of Mechanical Strain on the Proliferation of Pulmonary Epithelial Cells and Reorganization of Integrins

ZHANG Hui-Jing, CAI Shao-Xi*, LU Xiao, WANG Yuan--Liang, WANG Hong-Bing, HUANG Qi-Ping

( College of Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Biomechanics & Tissue Engineering under the State Ministry of Education,
Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

Abstract

Using a cyclic strain unit, the proliferation and reorganization of α5, β1 integrins in human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells that underwent mechanical strain were studied. Flow cytometry revealed that cellular proliferative index reduced significantly after cells were subjected to 15% elongation at frequency 20 cycles/min or 40 cycles/min for 48 h. Confocal microscopy revealed that α5, β1 integrins in human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells transferred from the apical layer to the basal layer and created adhesion plaques after 24 h exposure to 15% elongation at frequency 40 cycles/min. It is concluded that α5, β1 integrins in pulmonary epithelial cells play an important role in transducing mechanical stress into intracelluar signals.

Key words mechanical stress； human pulmonary epithelial cells； integrin； focal adhesion

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