Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions orchestrate the endothelial gravity-response.

A) Immunofluorescence staining of the cell junction protein VE-cadherin and the cytoskeletal protein F-actin, were performed on static controls and after application of hyper-gravity (2g for 15 minutes). The according line intensity quantifications are presented as dot-plots (n = 3 per group). Statistical differences were calculated with unpaired student’s t-test. B) Electrical modeling of ECIS data was carried out to distinguish between the contribution of cell-cell (Rb) and cell-matrix interactions (Alpha) to the overall resistance changes in response to hyper-gravity (2g). Representative data are shown.