Endothelial Cells Exposed to Fluid Shear Stress Support Diffusion Based Maturation of Adult Neural Progenitor Cells

Introduction The neural stem cell (NSC) niche is a highly complex cellular and biochemical milieu supporting proliferating NSCs and neural progenitor cells (NPCs) with close apposition to the vasculature, primarily comprised of endothelial cells (ECs). Current in vitro models of the niche incorporate EC-derived factors, but do not reflect the physiologically relevant hemodynamic state of the ECs or the spatial resolution observed between cells within the niche.