Biomedical Engineering Reference
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Impaired Neutrophil Mechanoregulation
by Fluid Flow: A Potential Contributing
Factor for Microvascular Dysfunction
in Obesity
Michael L. Akenhead, Xiaoyan Zhang and Hainsworth Y. Shin
Abstract In this chapter, we discuss evidence that potentially implicates impaired
neutrophil responses to shear stress as a putative factor in obesity-related car-
diovascular disease. We do so by presenting evidence connecting obesity with
microvascular disorders due to chronic inflammation and highlighting this link in
the setting of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, the potential
impact of neutrophils on these obesity-related disease processes is discussed.
Notably, both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are associated with a defi-
ciency in the neutrophil responsiveness to fluid shear stress. In this regard, we
define the neutrophil responses to shear stress exposure and how these responses
may play a role in microvascular function under physiological conditions as well
as how their impairment may result in microcirculatory dysfunction. Finally, we
point to data consistent with an impaired neutrophil shear sensitivity being a
manifestation of obesity, particularly as it relates to hypertension and hypercho-
lesterolemia. In this regard, we aim to suggest a novel perspective; specifically,
that impaired neutrophil shear sensitivity precedes a chronic inflammatory state
and serves as a putative source of obesity-related pathobiology.
1 Introduction
Obesity is a worldwide problem that classified 500 million individuals aged
20 years or older in 2008 as well as over 40 million children under the age of
5 years old in 2010 [
1
,
2
]. In the United States alone, more than a third of the
population (&80 million individuals) was considered obese from 2009-2010 [
3
].
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