Mechanical Fingerprint of Senescence in Endothelial Cells

Endothelial senescence entails alterations of the healthy cell phenotype, which accumulate over time and contribute to cardiovascular disease. Mechanical aspects regulating adhesion, force generation, response flow senescence-associated drift; however, they remain largely unexplored. Here, we exploit microscopy resolve variations anchoring substrate tractions generated upon aging in nanonewton (nN) range. Senescent endothelial cells display a multifold increase levels basal adhesion generation supported by mature strong focal adhesions. The enhanced mechanical interaction with yields static monolayers that polarize but fail process coordinated shape remodeling reorientation. emerging picture indicates reinforces local may therefore prevent denudation; it compromises ability functionally adapt hemodynamic conditions.