Biomechanical effects of flow and coculture on human aortic and cord blood-derived endothelial cells

► Examined effect of smooth muscle cell (SMC) coculture on endothelial cell (EC) elastic modulus. ► SMC coculture increased EC elastic moduli, which declined after exposure to flow. ► Elastic moduli in coculture or exposure to flow correlated with actin fiber density. ► Fluid shear stress had greater effect on EC elastic modulus than presence of SMCs. ► Biomechanical response differs for ECs cultured on SMCs or synthetic substrates.