Unveiling LOX-1 receptor interplay with nanotopography: mechanotransduction and atherosclerosis onset

Lectin-like ox-LDL receptors (LOX-1) play a crucial role in the ox-LDL-induced pathological transformation of vessel-wall components, a crucial early step in atherogenesis. LOX-1 dynamics is quantitatively investigated in human endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to environmental nanotopographies. We demonstrate distinct nanotopography-induced cell phenotypes, characterized by different morphology, LOX-1 diffusivity and oligomerization state: HUVECs on flat surfaces exhibit the behavior found in pro-atherogenic conditions, while growth on nanogratings can interfere with LOX-1 dynamics and lead to a behavior characteristic of normal, non-pathological conditions.