RNA-seq of primary human brain endothelial cells cultured on hydrogel substrates and exposed to static or fluid shear stress conditions

This study was designed to investigate the consequences of substrate stiffness on primary brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) in the presence of fluid shear stress (FSS) of 1.7 dyne/cm2. We utilized two gelatin (GEL) substrates of different w/v% (6.5% and 15%) that were crosslinked with microbial transglutaminase resulting in a Young's modulus of 6 kPa and 30 kPa (respectively).