Identifying cytokine-release signatures of flow-driven endothelial remodelling in an intracranial aneurysm cell culture model

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Abstract Intracranial aneurysm (IA) rupture is catastrophic, yet current models of rupture-risk inadequately capture underlying IA remodelling mechanisms. Endothelial-haemodynamic interactions are central to these processes, but in vitro flow platforms often lack vessel-relevant geometry or long-term perfusion. Here, temporal and spatial endothelial responses to haemodynamic stress were investigated across idealised and patient-specific vascular models. Polydimethylsiloxane models were endothelialised with human aortic endothelial cells then perfused at up to 1.6 Pa wall shear stress for five days. IA models were exposed to steady or cardiovascular flow waveforms, with endothelial phenotype assessed by immunofluorescence and cytokine profiling. Flow initiation induced a transient inflammatory response, with elevated MCP-1 and TNF-α at day two, followed by a resolution of cytokine levels by day five, including a ∼7.5-fold reduction in MCP-1, despite increased haemodynamic loading. Endothelial cells retained a cobblestone-like morphology with eNOS undetected, resembling a partially activated phenotype. Compared with steady flow, cardiovascular flow reduced TGF-β1 and IL-8 secretion and decreased FGF-b consumption (∼2.5 fold), suggesting enhanced phenotypic stability. This study presents the first in vitro IA model incorporating a cardiovascular flow waveform and identifies cytokine signatures with potential utility as biomarkers of IA remodelling, highlighting the importance of long-term perfusion for modelling chronic vascular disease. Table of Contents Figure An in vitro model of an intracranial aneurysm was developed to investigate how fluid flow dynamics impact endothelial remodelling and inflammation. Pulsatile cardiac flow promoted stabilisation of inflammatory signalling, which was sustained under a steady flow regime. Cytokine signatures emerged with potential utility as biomarkers of IA remodelling, highlighting the importance of long-term perfusion for modelling chronic vascular disease. The schematic of the cytokine release dynamics used in the graphical abstract below was generated with the assistance of AI-based tools including ChatGPT (v5.5) and M365 Copilot to align with key results from this manuscript.

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