Pulse pressure-induced transmural fluid flux increases bovine aortic smooth muscle cell apoptosis in a mitogen activated protein kinase dependent manner.

Background: Mechanical forces associated with blood flow are critical in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis as fundamental features in the pathogenesis of vascular disease. We investigated the effect of pulse pressure on VSMC apoptosis.

Methods: Using a perfused transcapillary co-culture system, bovine thoracic aortic SMC (BASMC) were exposed to increases in pulsatile flow (0.