Effect of Statins and Wall Shear Stress on Endothelial Cells: Morphology and F-Actin Cytoskeleton Arrangement

Wall shear stress and statin drugs have both been shown to influence endothelial cell function. We investigated the effect of statins on the morphology and F-actin cytoskeleton arrangement of endothelial cells with and without wall shear stress. Under static conditions, statins caused cells to become rounded and disorganized the F-actin cytoskeleton. Wall shear stress abrogated the morphological effects, but did not reverse the cytoskeleton disorganization.