Unveiling LOX-1 receptor interplay with nanotopography: mechanotransduction and atherosclerosis onset

Sci Rep. 2013:3:1141. doi: 10.1038/srep01141. Epub 2013 Jan 25.

Abstract

Lectin-like ox-LDL receptors (LOX-1) play a crucial role in the ox-LDL-induced pathological transformation of vessel-wall components, a crucial early step in atherogenesis. LOX-1 dynamics is quantitatively investigated in human endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to environmental nanotopographies. We demonstrate distinct nanotopography-induced cell phenotypes, characterized by different morphology, LOX-1 diffusivity and oligomerization state: HUVECs on flat surfaces exhibit the behavior found in pro-atherogenic conditions, while growth on nanogratings can interfere with LOX-1 dynamics and lead to a behavior characteristic of normal, non-pathological conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Atherosclerosis / metabolism
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology*
  • Cell Shape
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular
  • Nanostructures / chemistry
  • Nanotechnology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class E / genetics
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class E / metabolism*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • OLR1 protein, human
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Scavenger Receptors, Class E