Fig. 3

Nesprin-1 deficient vascular endothelial cells are unable to align in response to cyclic strain. a HUVECs seeded on silicon membranes were exposed to 10% cyclic uniaxial strain at a frequency of 0.5 Hz. Cell reorientation, quantified as a percentage of cells that reoriented 90° ± 30° relative to the strain direction, was decreased for nesprin-1 deficient cells (Nes-1) (p < 0.01). b The number of focal adhesions (FAs) increased in Nes-1 (p < 0.05). c Phase contrast images and traction stress maps. Scale bar = 200 μm. d Strain energy and e nuclear height were increased in Nes-1 (p < 0.05). A similar increase was observed with nonmuscle myosin II inhibitor (blebbistatin, Bleb) treatment. Adapted and reprinted with permission from [36]