Fig. 7.

Scheme of the proposed pathway altered by the contoured subjacent surface sensed by the endothelial cells. The contoured topology of the substratum imposes a different cytoskeletal organization to ECs, which in turn interferes with the Src intracellular signaling. Reduction of secreted MCP-1 level, in turn, hinders monocytes adhesion to the site of inflammation. In contrast, in flat domain the Src signaling is not affected, therefore higher levels of MCP-1 and adherent monocytes are detected.