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Hooglugt A, van der Stoel MM, Shapeti A, Neep BF, de Haan A, van Oosterwyck H, Boon RA, Huveneers S. DLC1 promotes mechanotransductive feedback for YAP via RhoGAP-mediated focal adhesion turnover. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261687. [PMID: 38563084 PMCID: PMC11112125 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a tightly controlled dynamic process demanding a delicate equilibrium between pro-angiogenic signals and factors that promote vascular stability. The spatiotemporal activation of the transcriptional co-factors YAP (herein referring to YAP1) and TAZ (also known WWTR1), collectively denoted YAP/TAZ, is crucial to allow for efficient collective endothelial migration in angiogenesis. The focal adhesion protein deleted-in-liver-cancer-1 (DLC1) was recently described as a transcriptional downstream target of YAP/TAZ in endothelial cells. In this study, we uncover a negative feedback loop between DLC1 expression and YAP activity during collective migration and sprouting angiogenesis. In particular, our study demonstrates that signaling via the RhoGAP domain of DLC1 reduces nuclear localization of YAP and its transcriptional activity. Moreover, the RhoGAP activity of DLC1 is essential for YAP-mediated cellular processes, including the regulation of focal adhesion turnover, traction forces, and sprouting angiogenesis. We show that DLC1 restricts intracellular cytoskeletal tension by inhibiting Rho signaling at the basal adhesion plane, consequently reducing nuclear YAP localization. Collectively, these findings underscore the significance of DLC1 expression levels and its function in mitigating intracellular tension as a pivotal mechanotransductive feedback mechanism that finely tunes YAP activity throughout the process of sprouting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aukie Hooglugt
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1105AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Miesje M. van der Stoel
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1105AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Apeksha Shapeti
- KU Leuven, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics section, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Beau F. Neep
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1105AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annett de Haan
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1105AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hans van Oosterwyck
- KU Leuven, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biomechanics section, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- KU Leuven, Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Reinier A. Boon
- Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein-Main, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Goethe University, Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stephan Huveneers
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, 1105AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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2
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Du R, Li L, Ji J, Fan Y. Receptor-Ligand Binding: Effect of Mechanical Factors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24109062. [PMID: 37240408 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24109062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Gaining insight into the in situ receptor-ligand binding is pivotal for revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological and pathological processes and will contribute to drug discovery and biomedical application. An important issue involved is how the receptor-ligand binding responds to mechanical stimuli. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of the effect of several representative mechanical factors, such as tension, shear stress, stretch, compression, and substrate stiffness on receptor-ligand binding, wherein the biomedical implications are focused. In addition, we highlight the importance of synergistic development of experimental and computational methods for fully understanding the in situ receptor-ligand binding, and further studies should focus on the coupling effects of these mechanical factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruotian Du
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Long Li
- State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Engineered Construction and Mechanobiology, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jing Ji
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yubo Fan
- Key Laboratory of Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
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3
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Joshi R, Han SB, Cho WK, Kim DH. The role of cellular traction forces in deciphering nuclear mechanics. Biomater Res 2022; 26:43. [PMID: 36076274 PMCID: PMC9461125 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-022-00289-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular forces exerted on the extracellular matrix (ECM) during adhesion and migration under physiological and pathological conditions regulate not only the overall cell morphology but also nuclear deformation. Nuclear deformation can alter gene expression, integrity of the nuclear envelope, nucleus-cytoskeletal connection, chromatin architecture, and, in some cases, DNA damage responses. Although nuclear deformation is caused by the transfer of forces from the ECM to the nucleus, the role of intracellular organelles in force transfer remains unclear and a challenging area of study. To elucidate nuclear mechanics, various factors such as appropriate biomaterial properties, processing route, cellular force measurement technique, and micromanipulation of nuclear forces must be understood. In the initial phase of this review, we focused on various engineered biomaterials (natural and synthetic extracellular matrices) and their manufacturing routes along with the properties required to mimic the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we discussed the principle of tools used to measure the cellular traction force generated during cell adhesion and migration, followed by recently developed techniques to gauge nuclear mechanics. In the last phase of this review, we outlined the principle of traction force microscopy (TFM), challenges in the remodeling of traction forces, microbead displacement tracking algorithm, data transformation from bead movement, and extension of 2-dimensional TFM to multiscale TFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Joshi
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seong-Beom Han
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Won-Ki Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Dong-Hwee Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea. .,Department of Integrative Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
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4
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Colasurdo M, Nieves EB, Fernández-Yagüe MA, Franck C, García AJ. Adhesive peptide and polymer density modulate 3D cell traction forces within synthetic hydrogels. Biomaterials 2022; 288:121710. [PMID: 35999082 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Cell-extracellular matrix forces provide pivotal signals regulating diverse physiological and pathological processes. Although mechanobiology has been widely studied in two-dimensional configurations, limited research has been conducted in three-dimensional (3D) systems due to the complex nature of mechanics and cellular behaviors. In this study, we established a platform integrating a well-defined synthetic hydrogel system (PEG-4MAL) with 3D traction force microscopy (TFM) methodologies to evaluate deformation and force responses within synthetic microenvironments, providing insights that are not tractable using biological matrices because of the interdependence of biochemical and biophysical properties and complex mechanics. We dissected the contributions of adhesive peptide density and polymer density, which determines hydrogel stiffness, to 3D force generation for fibroblasts. A critical threshold of adhesive peptide density at a constant matrix elasticity is required for cells to generate 3D forces. Furthermore, matrix displacements and strains decreased with matrix stiffness whereas stresses, and tractions increased with matrix stiffness until reaching constant values at higher stiffness values. Finally, Rho-kinase-dependent contractility and vinculin expression are required to generate significant 3D forces in both collagen and synthetic hydrogels. This research establishes a tunable platform for the study of mechanobiology and provides new insights into how cells sense and transmit forces in 3D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Colasurdo
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Elisa B Nieves
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA; Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Marc A Fernández-Yagüe
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Christian Franck
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Andrés J García
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA; George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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5
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Mgharbel A, Migdal C, Bouchonville N, Dupenloup P, Fuard D, Lopez-Soler E, Tomba C, Courçon M, Gulino-Debrac D, Delanoë-Ayari H, Nicolas A. Cells on Hydrogels with Micron-Scaled Stiffness Patterns Demonstrate Local Stiffness Sensing. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12040648. [PMID: 35214978 PMCID: PMC8880377 DOI: 10.3390/nano12040648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cell rigidity sensing-a basic cellular process allowing cells to adapt to mechanical cues-involves cell capabilities exerting force on the extracellular environment. In vivo, cells are exposed to multi-scaled heterogeneities in the mechanical properties of the surroundings. Here, we investigate whether cells are able to sense micron-scaled stiffness textures by measuring the forces they transmit to the extracellular matrix. To this end, we propose an efficient photochemistry of polyacrylamide hydrogels to design micron-scale stiffness patterns with kPa/µm gradients. Additionally, we propose an original protocol for the surface coating of adhesion proteins, which allows tuning the surface density from fully coupled to fully independent of the stiffness pattern. This evidences that cells pull on their surroundings by adjusting the level of stress to the micron-scaled stiffness. This conclusion was achieved through improvements in the traction force microscopy technique, e.g., adapting to substrates with a non-uniform stiffness and achieving a submicron resolution thanks to the implementation of a pyramidal optical flow algorithm. These developments provide tools for enhancing the current understanding of the contribution of stiffness alterations in many pathologies, including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Mgharbel
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
- University Grenoble Alps, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BIG-BCI, 38000 Grenoble, France; (M.C.); (D.G.-D.)
| | - Camille Migdal
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
- University Grenoble Alps, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BIG-BCI, 38000 Grenoble, France; (M.C.); (D.G.-D.)
| | - Nicolas Bouchonville
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
| | - Paul Dupenloup
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
| | - David Fuard
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
| | - Eline Lopez-Soler
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
- University Grenoble Alps, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BIG-BCI, 38000 Grenoble, France; (M.C.); (D.G.-D.)
| | - Caterina Tomba
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, Grenoble INP, Institut Néel, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Marie Courçon
- University Grenoble Alps, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BIG-BCI, 38000 Grenoble, France; (M.C.); (D.G.-D.)
| | - Danielle Gulino-Debrac
- University Grenoble Alps, CEA, CNRS, Inserm, BIG-BCI, 38000 Grenoble, France; (M.C.); (D.G.-D.)
| | - Héléne Delanoë-Ayari
- Université de Lyon, University Claude Bernard Lyon1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, 69622 Villeurbanne, France;
| | - Alice Nicolas
- University Grenoble Alps, CNRS, LTM, 38000 Grenoble, France; (A.M.); (C.M.); (N.B.); (P.D.); (D.F.); (E.L.-S.); (C.T.)
- Correspondence:
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6
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Mishra YG, Manavathi B. Focal adhesion dynamics in cellular function and disease. Cell Signal 2021; 85:110046. [PMID: 34004332 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acting as a bridge between the cytoskeleton of the cell and the extra cellular matrix (ECM), the cell-ECM adhesions with integrins at their core, play a major role in cell signalling to direct mechanotransduction, cell migration, cell cycle progression, proliferation, differentiation, growth and repair. Biochemically, these adhesions are composed of diverse, yet an organised group of structural proteins, receptors, adaptors, various enzymes including protein kinases, phosphatases, GTPases, proteases, etc. as well as scaffolding molecules. The major integrin adhesion complexes (IACs) characterised are focal adhesions (FAs), invadosomes (podosomes and invadopodia), hemidesmosomes (HDs) and reticular adhesions (RAs). The varied composition and regulation of the IACs and their signalling, apart from being an integral part of normal cell survival, has been shown to be of paramount importance in various developmental and pathological processes. This review per-illustrates the recent advancements in the research of IACs, their crucial roles in normal as well as diseased states. We have also touched on few of the various methods that have been developed over the years to visualise IACs, measure the forces they exert and study their signalling and molecular composition. Having such pertinent roles in the context of various pathologies, these IACs need to be understood and studied to develop therapeutical targets. We have given an update to the studies done in recent years and described various techniques which have been applied to study these structures, thereby, providing context in furthering research with respect to IAC targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasaswi Gayatri Mishra
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Bramanandam Manavathi
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
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7
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Xu H, Donegan S, Dreher JM, Stark AJ, Canović EP, Stamenović D, Smith ML. Focal adhesion displacement magnitude is a unifying feature of tensional homeostasis. Acta Biomater 2020; 113:372-379. [PMID: 32634483 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Tensional homeostasis is widely recognized to exist at the length scales of organs and tissues, but the cellular length scale mechanism for tension regulation is not known. In this study, we explored whether tensional homeostasis emerges from the behavior of the individual focal adhesion (FA), which is the subcellular structure that transmits cell stress to the surrounding extracellular matrix. Past studies have suggested that cell contractility builds up until a certain displacement is achieved, and we thus hypothesized that tensional homeostasis may require a threshold level of substrate displacement. Micropattern traction microscopy was used to study a wide range of FA traction forces generated by bovine vascular smooth muscle cells and bovine aortic endothelial cells cultured on substrates of stiffness of 3.6, 6.7, 13.6, and 30 kPa. The most striking feature of FA dynamics observed here is that the substrate displacement resulting from FA traction forces is a unifying feature that determines FA tensional stability. Beyond approximately 1 μm of substrate displacement, FAs, regardless of cell type or substrate stiffness, exhibit a precipitous drop in temporal fluctuations of traction forces. These findings lead us to the conclusion that traction force dynamics collectively determine whether cells or cell ensembles develop tensional homeostasis, and this insight is necessary to fully understand how matrix stiffness impacts cellular behavior in healthy conditions and, more important, in pathological conditions such as cancer or vascular aging, where environmental stiffness is altered. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Tensional homeostasis is widely recognized to exist at the length scales of organs and tissues, but the cellular length scale mechanism for tension regulation is not known. In this study, we explored whether tensional homeostasis emerges from the behavior of the individual focal adhesion (FA), which is the subcellular structure that transmits cell stress to the extracellular matrix. We utilized micropattern traction microscopy to measure time-lapses of FA forces in vascular smooth muscle cells and in endothelial cells. We discovered that the magnitude of the substrate displacement determines whether the FA has low temporal variability of traction forces. This finding is significant since it is the first known feature of tensional homeostasis that is broadly unifying across a range of environmental conditions and cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Stephanie Donegan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, 110 Cummington Mall, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Jordan M Dreher
- Department of Chemistry, Norfolk State University, 700 Park Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23504, United States
| | - Alicia J Stark
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Elizabeth P Canović
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Dimitrije Stamenović
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States; Division of Material Science and Engineering, Boston University, 15St. Mary's St., Brookline, MA 02446, United States.
| | - Michael L Smith
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, 44 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA 02215, United States.
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8
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Huang X, Yang X, Sun C, Huang S, Cheng M, Han Y. Biophysical signal transduction in cancer cells: Understanding its role in cancer pathogenesis and treatment. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188402. [PMID: 32771535 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Signaling between cells can promote both the development and progression of cancer. It has been found that chemical and physical signals, together with extracellular factors, can influence cancer progression. In this review, we focus on the physical microenvironment of cancer cells and examine the action of mechanical, electromagnetic, thermal, and acoustic signals on cancer cells, which may provide new directions for cancer research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoLei Huang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - XiaoXu Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Chenchen Sun
- School of Life Science and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - ShuXia Huang
- Department of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Min Cheng
- Department of Physiology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China
| | - Yangyang Han
- School of Life Science and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, PR China.
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9
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Vaeyens MM, Jorge-Peñas A, Barrasa-Fano J, Shapeti A, Roeffaers M, Van Oosterwyck H. Actomyosin-dependent invasion of endothelial sprouts in collagen. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2020; 77:261-276. [PMID: 32588525 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
During sprouting angiogenesis-the growth of blood vessels from the existing vasculature-endothelial cells (ECs) adopt an elongated invasive form and exert forces at cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction sites. These cell shape changes and cellular tractions require extensive reorganizations of the actomyosin network. However, the respective roles of actin and myosin for endothelial sprouting are not fully elucidated. In this study, we further investigate these roles by treating 2D-migrating and 3D-sprouting ECs with chemical compounds targeting either myosin or actin. These treatments affected the endothelial cytoskeleton drastically and reduced the invasive response in a compound-specific manner; pointing toward a tight control of the actin and myosin activity during sprouting. Clusters in the data further illustrate that endothelial sprout morphology is sensitive to the in vitro model mechanical microenvironment and directs future research toward mechanical substrate guidance as a strategy for promoting engineered tissue vascularization. In summary, our results add to a growing corpus of research highlighting a key role of the cytoskeleton for sprouting angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Mo Vaeyens
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Alvaro Jorge-Peñas
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jorge Barrasa-Fano
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Apeksha Shapeti
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roeffaers
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems (M2S), Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Biomechanics Section (BMe), Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Vargas DA, Gonçalves IG, Heck T, Smeets B, Lafuente-Gracia L, Ramon H, Van Oosterwyck H. Modeling of Mechanosensing Mechanisms Reveals Distinct Cell Migration Modes to Emerge From Combinations of Substrate Stiffness and Adhesion Receptor-Ligand Affinity. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:459. [PMID: 32582650 PMCID: PMC7283468 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal cell migration is an integral process in development and healing. The process is regulated by both mechanical and biochemical properties. Mechanical properties of the environment are sensed through mechanosensing, which consists of molecular responses mediated by mechanical signals. We developed a computational model of a deformable 3D cell on a flat substrate using discrete element modeling. The cell is polarized in a single direction and thus moves along the long axis of the substrate. By modeling discrete focal adhesions and stress fibers, we implement two mechanosensing mechanisms: focal adhesion stabilization by force and stress fiber strengthening upon contraction stalling. Two substrate-associated properties, substrate (ligand) stiffness and adhesion receptor–ligand affinity (in the form of focal adhesion disassembly rate), were varied for different model setups in which the mechanosensing mechanisms are set as active or inactive. Cell displacement, focal adhesion number, and cellular traction were quantified and tracked in time. We found that varying substrate stiffness (a mechanical property) and adhesion receptor–ligand affinity (a biochemical property) simultaneously dictate the mode in which cells migrate; cells either move in a smooth manner reminiscent of keratocytes or in a cyclical manner reminiscent of epithelial cells. Mechanosensing mechanisms are responsible for the range of conditions in which a cell adopts a particular migration mode. Stress fiber strengthening, specifically, is responsible for cyclical migration due to build-up of enough force to elicit rupture of focal adhesions and retraction of the cellular rear. Together, both mechanisms explain bimodal dependence of cell migration on substrate stiffness observed in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Vargas
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inês G Gonçalves
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering, Aragon Institute of Engineering Research, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Tommy Heck
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Smeets
- Mechatronics Biostatistics and Sensors, Biosystems Department, Particulate Dynamics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Lafuente-Gracia
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Herman Ramon
- Mechatronics Biostatistics and Sensors, Biosystems Department, Particulate Dynamics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hans Van Oosterwyck
- Mechanical Engineering Department, MAtrix: Mechanobiology and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics Division, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Prometheus: Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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