Deformation and alignment of the subconfluent cultured endothelial cell model under fluid shear stress - computational fluid mechanical simulation

The spontaneous alignment of arterial endothelial cells under flow conditions was simulated using a three dimensional computational fluid mechanical model of cultured endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were simulated using a 2D Gaussian distribution function. The nearly round model cells were randomly placed on a flat plate with random orientation. Navier-Stokes equations of a Newtonian fluid were solved using a finite volume method, and the absolute wall shear stress (WSS) at the summit of cells was calculated. Model cells were assumed to change their shape and orientation randomly and only the deformation of cells, which reduces the WSS, was assumed to be conserved under steady flow conditions. The model cells eventually demonstrated alignment during the simulation, which closely resembled that of real cells. This deformation and alignment was thought to simulate the flow induced self reorganization of the endothelial cells observed in vivo.