http://journal.shouxi.net – Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) are influenced by shear stress and neighboring smooth muscle cells (SMCs). We investigated the inflammation-relevant gene expression in EC/SMC cocultures under static condition and in response to shear stress. Our findings suggest that shear stress plays an inhibitory role in the proinflammatory gene expression in ECs located in close proximity to SMCs. ECs are influenced by shear stress and SMCs. DNA microarrays showed increased proinflammatory gene expressions in ECs by static SMC coculture. Shear stress inhibits these coculture-induced expressions. Read more »