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Falconieri A, Coppini A, Raffa V. Microtubules as a signal hub for axon growth in response to mechanical force. Biol Chem 2024; 405:67-77. [PMID: 37674311 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules are highly polar structures and are characterized by high anisotropy and stiffness. In neurons, they play a key role in the directional transport of vesicles and organelles. In the neuronal projections called axons, they form parallel bundles, mostly oriented with the plus-end towards the axonal termination. Their physico-chemical properties have recently attracted attention as a potential candidate in sensing, processing and transducing physical signals generated by mechanical forces. Here, we discuss the main evidence supporting the role of microtubules as a signal hub for axon growth in response to a traction force. Applying a tension to the axon appears to stabilize the microtubules, which, in turn, coordinate a modulation of axonal transport, local translation and their cross-talk. We speculate on the possible mechanisms modulating microtubule dynamics under tension, based on evidence collected in neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. However, the fundamental question of the causal relationship between these mechanisms is still elusive because the mechano-sensitive element in this chain has not yet been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allegra Coppini
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
| | - Vittoria Raffa
- Department of Biology, Università di Pisa, Pisa, 56127, Italy
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Shah PP, Santini GT, Shen KM, Jain R. InterLINCing Chromatin Organization and Mechanobiology in Laminopathies. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:307-314. [PMID: 37052760 PMCID: PMC10185580 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-01853-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this review, we explore the chromatin-related consequences of laminopathy-linked mutations through the lens of mechanotransduction. RECENT FINDINGS Multiple studies have highlighted the role of the nuclear lamina in maintaining the integrity of the nucleus. The lamina also has a critical role in 3D genome organization. Mutations in lamina proteins associated with various laminopathies result in the loss of organization of DNA at the nuclear periphery. However, it remains unclear if or how these two aspects of lamin function are connected. Recent data suggests that unlinking the cytoskeleton from the nuclear lamina may be beneficial to slow progress of deleterious phenotypes observed in laminopathies. In this review, we highlight emerging data that suggest interlinked chromatin- and mechanical biology-related pathways are interconnected in the pathogenesis of laminopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisha P. Shah
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Smilow Center for Translational Research, 09-184, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Garrett T. Santini
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Kaitlyn M. Shen
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Rajan Jain
- Departments of Medicine and Cell and Developmental Biology, Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Penn Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
- Smilow Center for Translational Research, 09-101, 3400 Civic Center Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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Choi Y, Morlino G, Toboso-Navasa A, Hopf R, Pramotton FM, Bigot A, Taddei A, Cesarovic N, Falk V, Mazza E, Giampietro C. A novel bistable device to study mechanosensitive cell responses to instantaneous stretch. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 141:213134. [PMID: 36191540 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The behavior of cells and tissues in vivo is determined by the integration of multiple biochemical and mechanical signals. Of the mechanical signals, stretch has been studied for decades and shown to contribute to pathophysiological processes. Several different stretch devices have been developed for in vitro investigations of cell stretch. In this work, we describe a new 3D-printed uniaxial stretching device for studying cell response to rapid deformation. The device is a bistable compliant mechanism holding two equilibrium states-an unstretched and stretched configuration-without the need of an external actuator. Furthermore, it allows multiple simultaneous measurements of different levels of stretch on a single substrate and is compatible with standard immunofluorescence imaging of fixed cells as well as live-cell imaging. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the device to stretch cells, a test case using aligned myotubes is presented. Leveraging material area changes associated with deformation of the substrate, changes in nuclei density provided evidence of affine deformation between cells and substrate. Furthermore, intranuclear deformations were also assessed and shown to deform non-affinely. As a proof-of-principle of the use of the device for mechanobiological studies, we uniaxially stretched aligned healthy and dystrophic myotubes that displayed different passive mechanical responses, consistent with previous literature in the field. We also identified a new feature in the mechanoresponse of dystrophic myotubes, which is of potential interest for identifying the diseased cells based on a quick mechanical readout. While some applications of the device for elucidating passive mechanical responses are demonstrated, the simplicity of the device allows it to be potentially used for other modes of deformation with little modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Choi
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Raoul Hopf
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland; Senecell AG, Zurich 8057, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Michela Pramotton
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland
| | - Anne Bigot
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, F-75013 Paris, France
| | | | - Nikola Cesarovic
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Volkmar Falk
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Edoardo Mazza
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland.
| | - Costanza Giampietro
- Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8092, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), Dübendorf 8600, Switzerland; Senecell AG, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.
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