This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shankaran, H. Articles by Neelamegham, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Shankaran, H. Articles by Neelamegham, S.

Hydrodynamic Forces Applied on Intercellular Bonds, Soluble Molecules, and Cell-Surface Receptors

Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York

Correspondence: Address reprint requests to Sriram Neelamegham, 906 Furnas Hall, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260. Tel.: 716-645-2911, ext. 2220; Fax: 716-645-3822; E-mail: neel{at}eng.buffalo.edu.

Cells and biomolecules exposed to blood circulation experience hydrodynamic forces that affect their function. We present a methodology to estimate fluid forces and force loading rates applied on cellular aggregates, cell-surface proteins, and soluble molecules. Low Reynolds-number hydrodynamic theory is employed. Selected results are presented for biological cases involving platelets, neutrophils, tumor cells, GpIb-like cell-surface receptors, and plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF)-like soluble proteins. Calculations reveal the following: 1), upon application of constant linear shear, cell aggregates and biomolecules experience time-varying forces due to their tumbling motion. 2), In comparison to neutrophil homotypic aggregates, the maximum force applied on neutrophil-platelet aggregates is approximately threefold lower. Thus, alterations in cell size may dramatically alter adhesion molecule requirement for efficient cell binding. Whereas peak forces on homotypic cell doublets are tensile, shear forces dominate in heterotypic doublets with radius ratio <0.3. 3), The peak forces on platelet GpIb and von Willebrand factor are of comparable magnitude. However, they are orders-of-magnitude lower than those applied on intercellular bonds. Charts are provided to rapidly evaluate the magnitude of hydrodynamic force and rotation time-period occurring in any given experiment. The calculation scheme may find application in studies of vascular biology and receptor biophysics.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Liang, C. Fu, D. Wagner, H. Guo, D. Zhan, C. Dong, and M. Long Two-dimensional kinetics of {beta}2-integrin and ICAM-1 bindings between neutrophils and melanoma cells in a shear flow Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, March 1, 2008; 294(3): C743 - C753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Shim, P. J. Anderson, E. A. Tuley, E. Wiswall, and J. Evan Sadler Platelet-VWF complexes are preferred substrates of ADAMTS13 under fluid shear stress Blood, January 15, 2008; 111(2): 651 - 657. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Xiao, H. L. Goldsmith, F. A. McIntosh, H. Shankaran, and S. Neelamegham Biomechanics of P-Selectin PSGL-1 Bonds: Shear Threshold and Integrin-Independent Cell Adhesion Biophys. J., March 15, 2006; 90(6): 2221 - 2234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]