A high-resolution real-time quantification of astrocyte cytokine secretion under shear stress for investigating hydrocephalus shunt failure

Abstract

Khodadadei et al. investigate the mechanisms underlying cerebral shunt failure using a microfluidic chip to simulate shear forces in the shunt. Employing total internal reflection fluorescence imaging, their findings indicate that astrocyte interleukin-6 cytokine secretions increase under higher shunt shear stresses, informing future shunt design and potential drug therapies to reduce shunt failure in patients.