Atherogenic WSS effects on aortic endothelial cells: Application of a novel bioreactor

Background and Aims: Altered blood flow acts on mechanotransduction, playing a role in aortic atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells (EC) respond to fluidodynamic changes, i.e. tangential wall shear stress (WSS), through modifying adhesion and growth. Our aim was to evaluate EC response to atherogenic WSS using a new generation bioreactor reproducing the WSS multidirectional nature in vivo sensed by EC.