Figure 2.

Shear stress force induces rearrangement of the cytoskeleton and cell alignment. Lung endothelial cells were exposed to flow shear stress (12 dyn/cm²) for 3 h and processed for immunofluorescence microscopy using actin and VE-cadherin antibodies. Hoechst was used for DNA staining. Shear stress induces increased alignment of actin stress fibers and elongation of nuclei (arrows) in the flow direction. Note “reinforcement” of cell–cell junctions particularly at the posterior and anterior ends of polarized cells as revealed by increased accumulation and “zipper-like” morphology of VE-cadherin junctions and increased cortical actin at these sites (arrowheads). Bar, 20 μm.