American Physiological Society, American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 1(306), p. L1-L9
DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00160.2013
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Endothelial cells, master gatekeepers of the cardiovascular system, line its inner boundary from the heart to distant capillaries constantly exposed to blood flow. Inter-endothelial signaling and the monolayer's adhesion to the underlying collagen rich basal lamina are key in physiology and disease. Using neutron scattering, we report the first-ever interfacial structure of endothelial monolayers under dynamic flow conditions mimicking the cardiovascular system. Endothelial adhesion strength (defined as the separation distance l between the basal cell membrane and solid boundary) is explained using developed interfacial potentials and intra-membrane segregation of specific adhesion proteins. Our method provides a powerful tool for the biophysical study of cellular layer adhesion strength in living tissues.