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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