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Parihar K, Ko SHB, Bradley RP, Taylor P, Ramakrishnan N, Baumgart T, Guo W, Weaver VM, Janmey PA, Radhakrishnan R. Asymmetric crowders and membrane morphology at the nexus of intracellular trafficking and oncology. MECHANOBIOLOGY IN MEDICINE 2024; 2:100071. [PMID: 38899029 PMCID: PMC11185830 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbm.2024.100071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
A definitive understanding of the interplay between protein binding/migration and membrane curvature evolution is emerging but needs further study. The mechanisms defining such phenomena are critical to intracellular transport and trafficking of proteins. Among trafficking modalities, exosomes have drawn attention in cancer research as these nano-sized naturally occurring vehicles are implicated in intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment, suppressing anti-tumor immunity and preparing the metastatic niche for progression. A significant question in the field is how the release and composition of tumor exosomes are regulated. In this perspective article, we explore how physical factors such as geometry and tissue mechanics regulate cell cortical tension to influence exosome production by co-opting the biophysics as well as the signaling dynamics of intracellular trafficking pathways and how these exosomes contribute to the suppression of anti-tumor immunity and promote metastasis. We describe a multiscale modeling approach whose impact goes beyond the fundamental investigation of specific cellular processes toward actual clinical translation. Exosomal mechanisms are critical to developing and approving liquid biopsy technologies, poised to transform future non-invasive, longitudinal profiling of evolving tumors and resistance to cancer therapies to bring us one step closer to the promise of personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kshitiz Parihar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Seung-Hyun B. Ko
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ryan P. Bradley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Phillip Taylor
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - N. Ramakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Tobias Baumgart
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wei Guo
- Department of Biology, School of Arts & Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Valerie M. Weaver
- Department of Surgery, Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Paul A. Janmey
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ravi Radhakrishnan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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2
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Smirnova O, Efremov Y, Klyucherev T, Peshkova M, Senkovenko A, Svistunov A, Timashev P. Direct and cell-mediated EV-ECM interplay. Acta Biomater 2024:S1742-7061(24)00401-X. [PMID: 39043290 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.07.029] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EV) are a heterogeneous group of lipid particles excreted by cells. They play an important role in regeneration, development, inflammation, and cancer progression, together with the extracellular matrix (ECM), which they constantly interact with. In this review, we discuss direct and indirect interactions of EVs and the ECM and their impact on different physiological processes. The ECM affects the secretion of EVs, and the properties of the ECM and EVs modulate EVs' diffusion and adhesion. On the other hand, EVs can affect the ECM both directly through enzymes and indirectly through the modulation of the ECM synthesis and remodeling by cells. This review emphasizes recently discovered types of EVs bound to the ECM and isolated by enzymatic digestion, including matrix-bound nanovesicles (MBV) and tissue-derived EV (TiEV). In addition to the experimental studies, computer models of the EV-ECM-cell interactions, from all-atom models to quantitative pharmacology models aiming to improve our understanding of the interaction mechanisms, are also considered. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Application of extracellular vesicles in tissue engineering is an actively developing area. Vesicles not only affect cells themselves but also interact with the matrix and change it. The matrix also influences both cells and vesicles. In this review, different possible types of interactions between vesicles, matrix, and cells are discussed. Furthermore, the united EV-ECM system and its regulation through the cellular activity are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Smirnova
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri Efremov
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Timofey Klyucherev
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria Peshkova
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey Senkovenko
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Peter Timashev
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", Sechenov University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Chemistry Department, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
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3
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Li X, Huebner RJ, Williams MLK, Sawyer J, Peifer M, Wallingford JB, Thirumalai D. Emergence of cellular nematic order is a conserved feature of gastrulation in animal embryos. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603175. [PMID: 39071444 PMCID: PMC11275887 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Cells undergo dramatic changes in morphology during embryogenesis, yet how these changes affect the formation of ordered tissues remains elusive. Here we find that the emergence of a nematic liquid crystal phase occurs in cells during gastrulation in the development of embryos of fish, frogs, and fruit flies. Moreover, the spatial correlations in all three organisms are long-ranged and follow a similar power-law decay( y ∼ x - α ) with α less than unity for the nematic order parameter, suggesting a common underlying physical mechanism unifies events in these distantly related species. All three species exhibit similar propagation of the nematic phase, reminiscent of nucleation and growth phenomena. Finally, we use a theoretical model along with disruptions of cell adhesion and cell specification to characterize the minimal features required for formation of the nematic phase. Our results provide a framework for understanding a potentially universal features of metazoan embryogenesis and shed light on the advent of ordered structures during animal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Robert J Huebner
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Margot L K Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jessica Sawyer
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA
| | - Mark Peifer
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA
| | - John B Wallingford
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - D Thirumalai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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4
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Li X, Huebner RJ, Williams MLK, Sawyer J, Peifer M, Wallingford JB, Thirumalai D. Emergence of cellular nematic order is a conserved feature of gastrulation in animal embryos. ARXIV 2024:arXiv:2407.12124v1. [PMID: 39070041 PMCID: PMC11275694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Cells undergo dramatic changes in morphology during embryogenesis, yet how these changes affect the formation of ordered tissues remains elusive. Here we find that the emergence of a nematic liquid crystal phase occurs in cells during gastrulation in the development of embryos of fish, frogs, and fruit flies. Moreover, the spatial correlations in all three organisms are long-ranged and follow a similar power-law decay( y ∼ x - α ) with α less than unity for the nematic order parameter, suggesting a common underlying physical mechanism unifies events in these distantly related species. All three species exhibit similar propagation of the nematic phase, reminiscent of nucleation and growth phenomena. Finally, we use a theoretical model along with disruptions of cell adhesion and cell specification to characterize the minimal features required for formation of the nematic phase. Our results provide a framework for understanding a potentially universal features of metazoan embryogenesis and shed light on the advent of ordered structures during animal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Robert J Huebner
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Margot L K Williams
- Center for Precision Environmental Health & Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jessica Sawyer
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA
| | - Mark Peifer
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA
| | - John B Wallingford
- Department of Molecular Bioscience, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - D Thirumalai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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5
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Qiao E, Fulmore CA, Schaffer DV, Kumar S. Substrate stress relaxation regulates neural stem cell fate commitment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2317711121. [PMID: 38968101 PMCID: PMC11252819 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317711121] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) reside in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, and their capacity to generate neurons and glia plays a role in learning and memory. In addition, neurodegenerative diseases are known to be caused by a loss of neurons and glial cells, resulting in a need to better understand stem cell fate commitment processes. We previously showed that NSC fate commitment toward a neuronal or glial lineage is strongly influenced by extracellular matrix stiffness, a property of elastic materials. However, tissues in vivo are not purely elastic and have varying degrees of viscous character. Relatively little is known about how the viscoelastic properties of the substrate impact NSC fate commitment. Here, we introduce a polyacrylamide-based cell culture platform that incorporates mismatched DNA oligonucleotide-based cross-links as well as covalent cross-links. This platform allows for tunable viscous stress relaxation properties via variation in the number of mismatched base pairs. We find that NSCs exhibit increased astrocytic differentiation as the degree of stress relaxation is increased. Furthermore, culturing NSCs on increasingly stress-relaxing substrates impacts cytoskeletal dynamics by decreasing intracellular actin flow rates and stimulating cyclic activation of the mechanosensitive protein RhoA. Additionally, inhibition of motor-clutch model components such as myosin II and focal adhesion kinase partially or completely reverts cells to lineage distributions observed on elastic substrates. Collectively, our results introduce a unique system for controlling matrix stress relaxation properties and offer insight into how NSCs integrate viscoelastic cues to direct fate commitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Qiao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Camille A. Fulmore
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - David V. Schaffer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
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6
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Pathni A, Wagh K, Rey-Suarez I, Upadhyaya A. Mechanical regulation of lymphocyte activation and function. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs219030. [PMID: 38995113 PMCID: PMC11267459 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.219030] [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] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanosensing, or how cells sense and respond to the physical environment, is crucial for many aspects of biological function, ranging from cell movement during development to cancer metastasis, the immune response and gene expression driving cell fate determination. Relevant physical stimuli include the stiffness of the extracellular matrix, contractile forces, shear flows in blood vessels, complex topography of the cellular microenvironment and membrane protein mobility. Although mechanosensing has been more widely studied in non-immune cells, it has become increasingly clear that physical cues profoundly affect the signaling function of cells of the immune system. In this Review, we summarize recent studies on mechanical regulation of immune cells, specifically lymphocytes, and explore how the force-generating cytoskeletal machinery might mediate mechanosensing. We discuss general principles governing mechanical regulation of lymphocyte function, spanning from the molecular scale of receptor activation to cellular responses to mechanical stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aashli Pathni
- Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kaustubh Wagh
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ivan Rey-Suarez
- Insitute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Microcore, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, DC 111711, USA
| | - Arpita Upadhyaya
- Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Insitute for Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Biophysics Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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7
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Yang Y, Li M. Side-view optical microscopy-assisted atomic force microscopy for thickness-dependent nanobiomechanics. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2024; 6:3306-3319. [PMID: 38933861 PMCID: PMC11197429 DOI: 10.1039/d4na00153b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of biomaterials play an important role in regulating life processes, and thus accurately delineating the mechanical properties of biomaterials is critical to understand their functionality. Particularly, atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become a powerful and standard tool for characterizing and analyzing the nanomechanical properties of biomaterials, and providing a capability to visualize the thickness of the specimen during AFM-based force spectroscopy experiments benefits the biomedical applications of AFM. Here, we present a study of side-view optical microscopy-assisted AFM based on the integration of AFM and a detachable side-view optical microscopy module, which is able to image in real time the AFM indentation process from the side-view perspective and consequently facilitates the utilization of AFM-based indentation assay to precisely detect the mechanical properties of a specimen by taking its thickness into account. The effectiveness of side-view optical microscopy-assisted AFM was confirmed on four different types of biomaterial systems, including microfabricated structures, hydrogels, living cells, and cell spheroids, and the experimental results significantly show that the mechanical properties of samples at the micro/nanoscale are closely related to their thickness, vividly illustrating side-view optical microscopy-assisted AFM as a promising approach for accurate nanomechanics of biomaterial systems. The study provides additional possibilities for measuring the thickness-dependent nanomechanical properties of biomaterials by AFM, which will enable AFM-based force spectroscopy technology to address more biological issues with enhanced precision and will benefit the field of mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang 110016 China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang 110169 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Mi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Robotics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang 110016 China
- Institutes for Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang 110169 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
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8
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Chen H, Wang S, Cao Y, Lei H. Molecular Force Sensors for Biological Application. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6198. [PMID: 38892386 PMCID: PMC11173168 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116198] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The mechanical forces exerted by cells on their surrounding microenvironment are known as cellular traction forces. These forces play crucial roles in various biological processes, such as tissue development, wound healing and cell functions. However, it is hard for traditional techniques to measure cellular traction forces accurately because their magnitude (from pN to nN) and the length scales over which they occur (from nm to μm) are extremely small. In order to fully understand mechanotransduction, highly sensitive tools for measuring cellular forces are needed. Current powerful techniques for measuring traction forces include traction force microscopy (TFM) and fluorescent molecular force sensors (FMFS). In this review, we elucidate the force imaging principles of TFM and FMFS. Then we highlight the application of FMFS in a variety of biological processes and offer our perspectives and insights into the potential applications of FMFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyan Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (H.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Shouhan Wang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (H.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Yi Cao
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; (H.C.); (S.W.)
| | - Hai Lei
- School of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
- Institute for Advanced Study in Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
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9
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Jang I, Menon S, Indra I, Basith R, Beningo KA. Calpain Small Subunit Mediated Secretion of Galectin-3 Regulates Traction Stress. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1247. [PMID: 38927454 PMCID: PMC11200796 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061247] [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: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The complex regulation of traction forces (TF) produced during cellular migration remains poorly understood. We have previously found that calpain 4 (Capn4), the small non-catalytic subunit of the calpain 1 and 2 proteases, regulates the production of TF independent of the proteolytic activity of the larger subunits. Capn4 was later found to facilitate tyrosine phosphorylation and secretion of the lectin-binding protein galectin-3 (Gal3). In this study, recombinant Gal3 (rGal3) was added to the media-enhanced TF generated by capn4-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Extracellular Gal3 also rescued defects in the distribution, morphology, and adhesive strength of focal adhesions present in capn4-/- MEF cells. Surprisingly, extracellular Gal3 does not influence mechanosensing. c-Abl kinase was found to affect Gal3 secretion and the production of TF through phosphorylation of Y107 on Gal3. Our study also suggests that Gal3-mediated regulation of TF occurs through signaling pathways triggered by β1 integrin but not by focal adhesion kinase (FAK) Y397 autophosphorylation. Our findings provide insights into the signaling mechanism by which Capn4 and secreted Gal3 regulate cell migration through the modulation of TF distinctly independent from a mechanosensing mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Karen A. Beningo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA; (I.J.)
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10
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Chen T, Giannone G. Single molecule imaging unveils cellular architecture, dynamics and mechanobiology. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 88:102369. [PMID: 38759257 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
The biomechanical regulation of the cytoskeleton and cell adhesions underlies various essential cellular functions. Studying them requires visualizing their nanostructure and molecular dynamics with evermore precise spatio-temporal resolution. In this review we will focus on the recent advances in single molecule fluorescence imaging techniques and discuss how they improve our understanding of mechanically sensitive cellular structures such as adhesions and the cytoskeleton. We will also discuss future directions for research, emphasizing on the 3D nature of cellular structures and tissues, their mechanical regulation at the molecule level, as well as how super-resolution microscopy will enhance our knowledge on protein structure and conformational changes in the cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchi Chen
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, Université Bordeaux, CNRS, UMR 5297, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Grégory Giannone
- Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, Université Bordeaux, CNRS, UMR 5297, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
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11
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Karimi A, Aga M, Khan T, D'costa SD, Thaware O, White E, Kelley MJ, Gong H, Acott TS. Comparative analysis of traction forces in normal and glaucomatous trabecular meshwork cells within a 3D, active fluid-structure interaction culture environment. Acta Biomater 2024; 180:206-229. [PMID: 38641184 PMCID: PMC11095374 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.04.021] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
This study presents a 3D in vitro cell culture model, meticulously 3D printed to replicate the conventional aqueous outflow pathway anatomical structure, facilitating the study of trabecular meshwork (TM) cellular responses under glaucomatous conditions. Glaucoma affects TM cell functionality, leading to extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening, enhanced cell-ECM adhesion, and obstructed aqueous humor outflow. Our model, reconstructed from polyacrylamide gel with elastic moduli of 1.5 and 21.7 kPa, is based on serial block-face scanning electron microscopy images of the outflow pathway. It allows for quantifying 3D, depth-dependent, dynamic traction forces exerted by both normal and glaucomatous TM cells within an active fluid-structure interaction (FSI) environment. In our experimental design, we designed two scenarios: a control group with TM cells observed over 20 hours without flow (static setting), focusing on intrinsic cellular contractile forces, and a second scenario incorporating active FSI to evaluate its impact on traction forces (dynamic setting). Our observations revealed that active FSI results in higher traction forces (normal: 1.83-fold and glaucoma: 2.24-fold) and shear strains (normal: 1.81-fold and glaucoma: 2.41-fold), with stiffer substrates amplifying this effect. Glaucomatous cells consistently exhibited larger forces than normal cells. Increasing gel stiffness led to enhanced stress fiber formation in TM cells, particularly in glaucomatous cells. Exposure to active FSI dramatically altered actin organization in both normal and glaucomatous TM cells, particularly affecting cortical actin stress fiber arrangement. This model while preliminary offers a new method in understanding TM cell biomechanics and ECM stiffening in glaucoma, highlighting the importance of FSI in these processes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This pioneering project presents an advanced 3D in vitro model, meticulously replicating the human trabecular meshwork's anatomy for glaucoma research. It enables precise quantification of cellular forces in a dynamic fluid-structure interaction, a leap forward from existing 2D models. This advancement promises significant insights into trabecular meshwork cell biomechanics and the stiffening of the extracellular matrix in glaucoma, offering potential pathways for innovative treatments. This research is positioned at the forefront of ocular disease study, with implications that extend to broader biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Karimi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States.
| | - Mini Aga
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Taaha Khan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Siddharth Daniel D'costa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Omkar Thaware
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Elizabeth White
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Mary J Kelley
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Department Integrative Biosciences, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Haiyan Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ted S Acott
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States; Department Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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12
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Mathieu M, Isomursu A, Ivaska J. Positive and negative durotaxis - mechanisms and emerging concepts. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261919. [PMID: 38647525 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261919] [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] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell migration is controlled by the coordinated action of cell adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, contractility and cell extrinsic cues. Integrins are the main adhesion receptors to ligands of the extracellular matrix (ECM), linking the actin cytoskeleton to the ECM and enabling cells to sense matrix rigidity and mount a directional cell migration response to stiffness gradients. Most models studied show preferred migration of single cells or cell clusters towards increasing rigidity. This is referred to as durotaxis, and since its initial discovery in 2000, technical advances and elegant computational models have provided molecular level details of stiffness sensing in cell migration. However, modeling has long predicted that, depending on cell intrinsic factors, such as the balance of cell adhesion molecules (clutches) and the motor proteins pulling on them, cells might also prefer adhesion to intermediate rigidity. Recently, experimental evidence has supported this notion and demonstrated the ability of cells to migrate towards lower rigidity, in a process called negative durotaxis. In this Review, we discuss the significant conceptual advances that have been made in our appreciation of cell plasticity and context dependency in stiffness-guided directional cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Mathieu
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Aleksi Isomursu
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Johanna Ivaska
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
- InFLAMES Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
- Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
- Western Finnish Cancer Center (FICAN West), University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
- Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Tukholmankatu 8, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
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13
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Cifuentes LP, Athamneh AIM, Efremov Y, Raman A, Kim T, Suter DM. A modified motor-clutch model reveals that neuronal growth cones respond faster to soft substrates. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar47. [PMID: 38354034 PMCID: PMC11064671 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-09-0364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuronal growth cones sense a variety of cues including chemical and mechanical ones to establish functional connections during nervous system development. Substrate-cytoskeletal coupling is an established model for adhesion-mediated growth cone advance; however, the detailed molecular and biophysical mechanisms underlying the mechanosensing and mechanotransduction process remain unclear. Here, we adapted a motor-clutch model to better understand the changes in clutch and cytoskeletal dynamics, traction forces, and substrate deformation when a growth cone interacts with adhesive substrates of different stiffnesses. Model parameters were optimized using experimental data from Aplysia growth cones probed with force-calibrated glass microneedles. We included a reinforcement mechanism at both motor and clutch level. Furthermore, we added a threshold for retrograde F-actin flow that indicates when the growth cone is strongly coupled to the substrate. Our modeling results are in strong agreement with experimental data with respect to the substrate deformation and the latency time after which substrate-cytoskeletal coupling is strong enough for the growth cone to advance. Our simulations show that it takes the shortest time to achieve strong coupling when substrate stiffness was low at 4 pN/nm. Taken together, these results suggest that Aplysia growth cones respond faster and more efficiently to soft than stiff substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yuri Efremov
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Arvind Raman
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Taeyoon Kim
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | - Daniel M. Suter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Purdue Institute for Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
- Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
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14
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Chu G, Guan M, Jin J, Luo Y, Luo Z, Shi T, Liu T, Zhang C, Wang Y. Mechanochemically Reprogrammed Interface Orchestrates Neutrophil Bactericidal Activity and Apoptosis for Preventing Implant-Associated Infection. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2311855. [PMID: 38164817 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The onset of implant-associated infection (IAI) triggers a cascade of immune responses, which are initially dominated by neutrophils. Bacterial aggregate formation and hypoxic microenvironment, which occur shortly after implantation, may be two major risk factors that impair neutrophil function and lead to IAI. Here, the implant surface with phytic acid-Zn2+ coordinated TiO2 nanopillar arrays (PA-Zn@TiNPs) and oxygen self-supporting CaO2 nanoparticles, named as CPZTs, is mechanochemically reprogrammed. The engineered CPZTs interface integrates multiple properties to inhibit the formation of nascent biofilm, encompassing antibacterial adhesion, mechanobactericidal effect, and chemobiocidal effect. Meanwhile, continuous oxygenation fuels the neutrophils with reactive oxygen species (ROS) for efficient bacterial elimination on the implant surface and inside the neutrophils. Furthermore, this surface modulation strategy accelerates neutrophil apoptosis and promotes M2 macrophage-mediated osteogenesis both in vitro and in a rat model of IAI. In conclusion, targeting neutrophils for immunomodulation is a practical and effective strategy to prevent IAI and promote bone-implant integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangyu Chu
- Spine Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Ming Guan
- Spine Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jiale Jin
- Spine Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yao Luo
- Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China
| | - Zhiyuan Luo
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Tingwang Shi
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Spine Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Chunlei Zhang
- Institute of Nano Biomedicine and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Instrument, School of Sensing Science and Engineering, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Spine Lab, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
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15
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Shi L, Nadjar-Boger E, Jafarinia H, Carlier A, Wolfenson H. YAP mediates apoptosis through failed integrin adhesion reinforcement. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113811. [PMID: 38393944 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113811] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity is a major effector of cell fate decisions. Whereas cell proliferation on stiff matrices, wherein Yes-associated protein (YAP) plays a pivotal role, is well documented, activation of apoptosis in response to soft matrices is poorly understood. Here, we show that YAP drives the apoptotic decision as well. We find that in cells on soft matrices, YAP is recruited to small adhesions, phosphorylated at the Y357 residue, and translocated into the nucleus, ultimately leading to apoptosis. In contrast, Y357 phosphorylation levels are dramatically low in large adhesions on stiff matrices. Furthermore, mild attenuation of actomyosin contractility allows adhesion growth on soft matrices, leading to reduced Y357 phosphorylation levels and resulting in cell growth. These findings indicate that failed adhesion reinforcement drives rigidity-dependent apoptosis through YAP and that this decision is not determined solely by ECM rigidity but rather by the balance between cellular forces and ECM rigidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidan Shi
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - Elisabeth Nadjar-Boger
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - Hamidreza Jafarinia
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Aurélie Carlier
- MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cell Biology-Inspired Tissue Engineering, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Haguy Wolfenson
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel.
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16
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Cao R, Tian H, Tian Y, Fu X. A Hierarchical Mechanotransduction System: From Macro to Micro. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2302327. [PMID: 38145330 PMCID: PMC10953595 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is a strictly regulated process whereby mechanical stimuli, including mechanical forces and properties, are sensed and translated into biochemical signals. Increasing data demonstrate that mechanotransduction is crucial for regulating macroscopic and microscopic dynamics and functionalities. However, the actions and mechanisms of mechanotransduction across multiple hierarchies, from molecules, subcellular structures, cells, tissues/organs, to the whole-body level, have not been yet comprehensively documented. Herein, the biological roles and operational mechanisms of mechanotransduction from macro to micro are revisited, with a focus on the orchestrations across diverse hierarchies. The implications, applications, and challenges of mechanotransduction in human diseases are also summarized and discussed. Together, this knowledge from a hierarchical perspective has the potential to refresh insights into mechanotransduction regulation and disease pathogenesis and therapy, and ultimately revolutionize the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Cao
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Huimin Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yan Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
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17
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Karimi A, Aga M, Khan T, D'costa SD, Cardenas-Riumallo S, Zelenitz M, Kelley MJ, Acott TS. Dynamic traction force in trabecular meshwork cells: A 2D culture model for normal and glaucomatous states. Acta Biomater 2024; 175:138-156. [PMID: 38151067 PMCID: PMC10843681 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.12.033] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Glaucoma, which is associated with intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, results in trabecular meshwork (TM) cellular dysfunction, leading to increased rigidity of the extracellular matrix (ECM), larger adhesion forces between the TM cells and ECM, and higher resistance to aqueous humor drainage. TM cells sense the mechanical forces due to IOP dynamic and apply multidimensional forces on the ECM. Recognizing the importance of cellular forces in modulating various cellular activities and development, this study is aimed to develop a 2D in vitro cell culture model to calculate the 3D, depth-dependent, dynamic traction forces, tensile/compressive/shear strain of the normal and glaucomatous human TM cells within a deformable polyacrylamide (PAM) gel substrate. Normal and glaucomatous human TM cells were isolated, cultured, and seeded on top of the PAM gel substrate with embedded FluoSpheres, spanning elastic moduli of 1.5 to 80 kPa. Sixteen-hour post-seeding live confocal microscopy in an incubator was conducted to Z-stack image the 3D displacement map of the FluoSpheres within the PAM gels. Combined with the known PAM gel stiffness, we ascertained the 3D traction forces in the gel. Our results revealed meaningfully larger traction forces in the glaucomatous TM cells compared to the normal TM cells, reaching depths greater than 10-µm in the PAM gel substrate. Stress fibers in TM cells increased with gel rigidity, but diminished when stiffness rose from 20 to 80 kPa. The developed 2D cell culture model aids in understanding how altered mechanical properties in glaucoma impact TM cell behavior and aqueous humor outflow resistance. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness, is intricately linked to elevated intraocular pressures and their subsequent cellular effects. The trabecular meshwork plays a pivotal role in this mechanism, particularly its interaction with the extracellular matrix. This research unveils an advanced 2D in vitro cell culture model that intricately maps the complex 3D forces exerted by trabecular meshwork cells on the extracellular matrix, offering unparalleled insights into the cellular biomechanics at play in both healthy and glaucomatous eyes. By discerning the changes in these forces across varying substrate stiffness levels, we bridge the gap in understanding between cellular mechanobiology and the onset of glaucoma. The findings stand as a beacon for potential therapeutic avenues, emphasizing the gravity of cellular/extracellular matrix interactions in glaucoma's pathogenesis and setting the stage for targeted interventions in its early stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Karimi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Mini Aga
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Taaha Khan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Siddharth Daniel D'costa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Meadow Zelenitz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mary J Kelley
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department Integrative Biosciences, School of Dentistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Ted S Acott
- Department of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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18
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Park R, Kang MS, Heo G, Shin YC, Han DW, Hong SW. Regulated Behavior in Living Cells with Highly Aligned Configurations on Nanowrinkled Graphene Oxide Substrates: Deep Learning Based on Interplay of Cellular Contact Guidance. ACS NANO 2024; 18:1325-1344. [PMID: 38099607 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c09815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Micro-/nanotopographical cues have emerged as a practical and promising strategy for controlling cell fate and reprogramming, which play a key role as biophysical regulators in diverse cellular processes and behaviors. Extracellular biophysical factors can trigger intracellular physiological signaling via mechanotransduction and promote cellular responses such as cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, gene/protein expression, and differentiation. Here, we engineered a highly ordered nanowrinkled graphene oxide (GO) surface via the mechanical deformation of an ultrathin GO film on an elastomeric substrate to observe specific cellular responses based on surface-mediated topographical cues. The ultrathin GO film on the uniaxially prestrained elastomeric substrate through self-assembly and subsequent compressive force produced GO nanowrinkles with periodic amplitude. To examine the acute cellular behaviors on the GO-based cell interface with nanostructured arrays of wrinkles, we cultured L929 fibroblasts and HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. As a result, our developed cell-culture substrate obviously provided a directional guidance effect. In addition, based on the observed results, we adapted a deep learning (DL)-based data processing technique to precisely interpret the cell behaviors on the nanowrinkled GO surfaces. According to the learning/transfer learning protocol of the DL network, we detected cell boundaries, elongation, and orientation and quantitatively evaluated cell velocity, traveling distance, displacement, and orientation. The presented experimental results have intriguing implications such that the nanotopographical microenvironment could engineer the living cells' morphological polarization to assemble them into useful tissue chips consisting of multiple cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowoon Park
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Moon Sung Kang
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeonghwa Heo
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Cheol Shin
- Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio 44195, United States
| | - Dong-Wook Han
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Suck Won Hong
- Department of Cogno-Mechatronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Engineering Research Center for Color-Modulated Extra-Sensory Perception Technology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
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19
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Huang LZY, Shaw ZL, Penman R, Cheeseman S, Truong VK, Higgins MJ, Caruso RA, Elbourne A. Cell Adhesion, Elasticity, and Rupture Forces Guide Microbial Cell Death on Nanostructured Antimicrobial Titanium Surfaces. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:344-361. [PMID: 38100088 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00943] [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] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Naturally occurring and synthetic nanostructured surfaces have been widely reported to resist microbial colonization. The majority of these studies have shown that both bacterial and fungal cells are killed upon contact and subsequent surface adhesion to such surfaces. This occurs because the presence of high-aspect-ratio structures can initiate a self-driven mechanical rupture of microbial cells during the surface adsorption process. While this technology has received a large amount of scientific and medical interest, one important question still remains: what factors drive microbial death on the surface? In this work, the interplay between microbial-surface adhesion, cell elasticity, cell membrane rupture forces, and cell lysis at the microbial-nanostructure biointerface during adsorptive processes was assessed using a combination of live confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, in situ amplitude atomic force microscopy, and single-cell force spectroscopy. Specifically, the adsorptive behavior and nanomechanical properties of live Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacterial cells, as well as the fungal species Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, were assessed on unmodified and nanostructured titanium surfaces. Unmodified titanium and titanium surfaces with nanostructures were used as model substrates for investigation. For all microbial species, cell elasticity, rupture force, maximum cell-surface adhesion force, the work of adhesion, and the cell-surface tether behavior were compared to the relative cell death observed for each surface examined. For cells with a lower elastic modulus, lower force to rupture through the cell, and higher work of adhesion, the surfaces had a higher antimicrobial activity, supporting the proposed biocidal mode of action for nanostructured surfaces. This study provides direct quantification of the differences observed in the efficacy of nanostructured antimicrobial surface as a function of microbial species indicating that a universal, antimicrobial surface architecture may be hard to achieve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louisa Z Y Huang
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science, College of STEM, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Z L Shaw
- School of Engineering, College of STEM, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Rowan Penman
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science, College of STEM, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Samuel Cheeseman
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science, College of STEM, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Graeme Clark Institute, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology & Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Services, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Vi Khanh Truong
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science, College of STEM, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Michael J Higgins
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Rachel A Caruso
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science, College of STEM, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Aaron Elbourne
- Applied Chemistry and Environmental Science, School of Science, College of STEM, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
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20
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Kenny M, Pollitt AY, Patil S, Hiebner DW, Smolenski A, Lakic N, Fisher R, Alsufyani R, Lickert S, Vogel V, Schoen I. Contractility defects hinder glycoprotein VI-mediated platelet activation and affect platelet functions beyond clot contraction. Res Pract Thromb Haemost 2024; 8:102322. [PMID: 38379711 PMCID: PMC10877441 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpth.2024.102322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Active and passive biomechanical properties of platelets contribute substantially to thrombus formation. Actomyosin contractility drives clot contraction required for stabilizing the hemostatic plug. Impaired contractility results in bleeding but is difficult to detect using platelet function tests. Objectives To determine how diminished myosin activity affects platelet functions, including and beyond clot contraction. Methods Using the myosin IIA-specific pharmacologic inhibitor blebbistatin, we modulated myosin activity in platelets from healthy donors and systematically characterized platelet responses at various levels of inhibition by interrogating distinct platelet functions at each stage of thrombus formation using a range of complementary assays. Results Partial myosin IIA inhibition neither affected platelet von Willebrand factor interactions under arterial shear nor platelet spreading and cytoskeletal rearrangements on fibrinogen. However, it impacted stress fiber formation and the nanoarchitecture of cell-matrix adhesions, drastically reducing and limiting traction forces. Higher blebbistatin concentrations impaired platelet adhesion under flow, altered mechanosensing at lamellipodia edges, and eliminated traction forces without affecting platelet spreading, α-granule secretion, or procoagulant platelet formation. Unexpectedly, myosin IIA inhibition reduced calcium influx, dense granule secretion, and platelet aggregation downstream of glycoprotein (GP)VI and limited the redistribution of GPVI on the cell membrane, whereas aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate or arachidonic acid was unaffected. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of both active contractile and passive crosslinking roles of myosin IIA in the platelet cytoskeleton. They support the hypothesis that highly contractile platelets are needed for hemostasis and further suggest a supportive role for myosin IIA in GPVI signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kenny
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alice Y. Pollitt
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Smita Patil
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dishon W. Hiebner
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Albert Smolenski
- School of Medicine, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Natalija Lakic
- School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Robert Fisher
- School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Reema Alsufyani
- School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sebastian Lickert
- Department of Health Sciences and Technologies, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Viola Vogel
- Department of Health Sciences and Technologies, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ingmar Schoen
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
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21
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Tervonen A, Korpela S, Nymark S, Hyttinen J, Ihalainen TO. The Effect of Substrate Stiffness on Elastic Force Transmission in the Epithelial Monolayers over Short Timescales. Cell Mol Bioeng 2023; 16:475-495. [PMID: 38099211 PMCID: PMC10716100 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-023-00772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The importance of mechanical forces and microenvironment in guiding cellular behavior has been widely accepted. Together with the extracellular matrix (ECM), epithelial cells form a highly connected mechanical system subjected to various mechanical cues from their environment, such as ECM stiffness, and tensile and compressive forces. ECM stiffness has been linked to many pathologies, including tumor formation. However, our understanding of the effect of ECM stiffness and its heterogeneities on rapid force transduction in multicellular systems has not been fully addressed. Methods We used experimental and computational methods. Epithelial cells were cultured on elastic hydrogels with fluorescent nanoparticles. Single cells were moved by a micromanipulator, and epithelium and substrate deformation were recorded. We developed a computational model to replicate our experiments and quantify the force distribution in the epithelium. Our model further enabled simulations with local stiffness gradients. Results We found that substrate stiffness affects the force transduction and the cellular deformation following an external force. Also, our results indicate that the heterogeneities, e.g., gradients, in the stiffness can substantially influence the strain redistribution in the cell monolayers. Furthermore, we found that the cells' apico-basal elasticity provides a level of mechanical isolation between the apical cell-cell junctions and the basal focal adhesions. Conclusions Our simulation results show that increased ECM stiffness, e.g., due to a tumor, can mechanically isolate cells and modulate rapid mechanical signaling between cells over distances. Furthermore, the developed model has the potential to facilitate future studies on the interactions between epithelial monolayers and elastic substrates. Supplementary Information The online version of this article (10.1007/s12195-023-00772-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aapo Tervonen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Jyväskylä, Survontie 9 C, 40500 Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Sanna Korpela
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Soile Nymark
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Teemu O. Ihalainen
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33520 Tampere, Finland
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22
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Gonthier A, Botvinick EL, Grosberg A, Mohraz A. Effect of Porous Substrate Topographies on Cell Dynamics: A Computational Study. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:5666-5678. [PMID: 37713253 PMCID: PMC10565724 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01008] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Controlling cell-substrate interactions via the microstructural characteristics of biomaterials offers an advantageous path for modulating cell dynamics, mechanosensing, and migration, as well as for designing immune-modulating implants, all without the drawbacks of chemical-based triggers. Specifically, recent in vivo studies have suggested that a porous implant's microscale curvature landscape can significantly impact cell behavior and ultimately the immune response. To investigate such cell-substrate interactions, we utilized a 3D computational model incorporating the minimum necessary physics of cell migration and cell-substrate interactions needed to replicate known in vitro behaviors. This model specifically incorporates the effect of membrane tension, which was found to be necessary to replicate in vitro cell behavior on curved surfaces. Our simulated substrates represent two classes of porous materials recently used in implant studies, which have markedly different microscale curvature distributions and pore geometries. We found distinct differences between the overall migration behaviors, shapes, and actin polymerization dynamics of cells interacting with the two substrates. These differences were correlated to the shape energy of the cells as they interacted with the porous substrates, in effect interpreting substrate topography as an energetic landscape interrogated by cells. Our results demonstrate that microscale curvature directly influences cell shape and migration and, therefore, is likely to influence cell behavior. This supports further investigation of the relationship between the surface topography of implanted materials and the characteristic immune response, a complete understanding of which would broadly advance principles of biomaterial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyse
R. Gonthier
- Department
of Materials Science & Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Elliot L. Botvinick
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Center
for Complex Biological Systems, University
of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Beckman
Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, University
of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department
of Surgery,University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Edwards
Lifesciences
Foundation Cardiovascular Innovation & Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Anna Grosberg
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Center
for Complex Biological Systems, University
of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Edwards
Lifesciences
Foundation Cardiovascular Innovation & Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- The
NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Sue
and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Ali Mohraz
- Department
of Materials Science & Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
- Department
of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
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23
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Jun M, Lee YL, Zhou T, Maric M, Burke B, Park S, Low BC, Chiam KH. Subcellular Force Imbalance in Actin Bundles Induces Nuclear Repositioning and Durotaxis. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:43387-43402. [PMID: 37674326 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c07546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Durotaxis is a phenomenon in which cells migrate toward substrates of increasing stiffness. However, how cells assimilate substrate stiffness as a directional cue remains poorly understood. In this study, we experimentally show that mouse embryonic fibroblasts can discriminate between different substrate stiffnesses and develop higher traction forces at regions of the cell adhering to the stiffer pillars. In this way, the cells generate a force imbalance between adhesion sites. It is this traction force imbalance that drives durotaxis by providing directionality for cell migration. Significantly, we found that traction forces are transmitted via LINC complexes to the cell nucleus, which serves to maintain the global force imbalance. In this way, LINC complexes play an essential role in anterograde nuclear movement and durotaxis. This conclusion is supported by the fact that LINC complex-deficient cells are incapable of durotaxis and instead migrate randomly on substrates featuring a stiffness gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myeongjun Jun
- Bioinformatics institute, A*STAR, Singapore 138671, Singapore
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Yin Loon Lee
- A*STAR Skin Research Laboratories, A*STAR, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Tianxun Zhou
- Bioinformatics institute, A*STAR, Singapore 138671, Singapore
| | - Martina Maric
- A*STAR Skin Research Laboratories, A*STAR, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Brian Burke
- A*STAR Skin Research Laboratories, A*STAR, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Sungsu Park
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
- Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea
| | - Boon Chuan Low
- Department of Biological Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
- NUS college, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Keng-Hwee Chiam
- Bioinformatics institute, A*STAR, Singapore 138671, Singapore
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24
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Flanary SM, Barocas VH. A structural bio-chemo-mechanical model for vascular smooth muscle cell traction force microscopy. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:1221-1238. [PMID: 37004657 PMCID: PMC10603623 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-023-01713-6] [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: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Altered vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contractility is both a response to and a driver for impaired arterial function, and the leading experimental technique for quantifying VSMC contraction is traction force microscopy (TFM). TFM involves the complex interaction among several chemical, biological, and mechanical mechanisms, making it difficult to translate TFM results into tissue-scale behavior. Here, a computational model capturing each of the major aspects of the cell traction process is presented. The model incorporates four interacting components: a biochemical signaling network, individual actomyosin fiber bundle contraction, a cytoskeletal network of interconnected fibers, and elastic substrate displacement due to cytoskeletal force. The synthesis of these four components leads to a broad, flexible framework for describing TFM and linking biochemical and biomechanical phenomena on the single-cell level. The model recapitulated available data on VSMCs following biochemical, geometric, and mechanical perturbations. The structural bio-chemo-mechanical model offers a tool to interpret TFM data in new, more mechanistic ways, providing a framework for the evaluation of new biological hypotheses, interpolation of new data, and potential translation from single-cell experiments to multi-scale tissue models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M Flanary
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Victor H Barocas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Nils Hasselmo Hall, Room 7-115, 312 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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25
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López-Guajardo A, Zafar A, Al Hennawi K, Rossi V, Alrwaili A, Medcalf JD, Dunning M, Nordgren N, Pettersson T, Estabrook ID, Hawkins RJ, Gad AKB. Regulation of cellular contractile force, shape and migration of fibroblasts by oncogenes and Histone deacetylase 6. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1197814. [PMID: 37564130 PMCID: PMC10411354 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1197814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The capacity of cells to adhere to, exert forces upon and migrate through their surrounding environment governs tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis. The role of the physical contractile forces that cells exert in this process, and the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. We, therefore, aimed to clarify if the extracellular forces that cells exert on their environment and/or the intracellular forces that deform the cell nucleus, and the link between these forces, are defective in transformed and invasive fibroblasts, and to indicate the underlying molecular mechanism of control. Confocal, Epifluorescence and Traction force microscopy, followed by computational analysis, showed an increased maximum contractile force that cells apply on their environment and a decreased intracellular force on the cell nucleus in the invasive fibroblasts, as compared to normal control cells. Loss of HDAC6 activity by tubacin-treatment and siRNA-mediated HDAC6 knockdown also reversed the reduced size and more circular shape and defective migration of the transformed and invasive cells to normal. However, only tubacin-mediated, and not siRNA knockdown reversed the increased force of the invasive cells on their surrounding environment to normal, with no effects on nuclear forces. We observed that the forces on the environment and the nucleus were weakly positively correlated, with the exception of HDAC6 siRNA-treated cells, in which the correlation was weakly negative. The transformed and invasive fibroblasts showed an increased number and smaller cell-matrix adhesions than control, and neither tubacin-treatment, nor HDAC6 knockdown reversed this phenotype to normal, but instead increased it further. This highlights the possibility that the control of contractile force requires separate functions of HDAC6, than the control of cell adhesions, spreading and shape. These data are consistent with the possibility that defective force-transduction from the extracellular environment to the nucleus contributes to metastasis, via a mechanism that depends upon HDAC6. To our knowledge, our findings present the first correlation between the cellular forces that deforms the surrounding environment and the nucleus in fibroblasts, and it expands our understanding of how cells generate contractile forces that contribute to cell invasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana López-Guajardo
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Azeer Zafar
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Khairat Al Hennawi
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Valentina Rossi
- Immunology and Molecular Oncology Diagnostics, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Padova, Italy
| | - Abdulaziz Alrwaili
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica D. Medcalf
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Dunning
- Bioinformatics Core, The Medical School, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Niklas Nordgren
- Division Bioeconomy and Health, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Pettersson
- Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ian D. Estabrook
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rhoda J. Hawkins
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Accra, Ghana
| | - Annica K. B. Gad
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Madeira Chemistry Research Centre, University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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26
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Bai Y, Zheng X, Zhong X, Cui Q, Zhang S, Wen X, Heng BC, He S, Shen Y, Zhang J, Wei Y, Deng X, Zhang X. Manipulation of Heterogeneous Surface Electric Potential Promotes Osteogenesis by Strengthening RGD Peptide Binding and Cellular Mechanosensing. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209769. [PMID: 36934418 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The heterogeneity of extracellular matrix (ECM) topology, stiffness, and architecture is a key factor modulating cellular behavior and osteogenesis. However, the effects of heterogeneous ECM electric potential at the micro- and nanoscale on osteogenesis remain to be elucidated. Here, the heterogeneous distribution of surface potential is established by incorporating ferroelectric BaTiO3 nanofibers (BTNF) into poly(vinylidene fluoridetrifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)) matrix based on phase-field and first-principles simulation. By optimizing the aspect ratios of BTNF fillers, the anisotropic distribution of surface potential on BTNF/P(VDF-TrFE) nanocomposite membranes can be achieved by strong spontaneous electric polarization of BTNF fillers. These results indicate that heterogeneous surface potential distribution leads to a meshwork pattern of fibronectin (FN) aggregation, which increased FN-III7-10 (FN fragment) focal flexibility and anchor points as predicted by molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, integrin clustering, focal adhesion formation, cell spreading, and adhesion are enhanced sequentially. Increased traction of actin fibers amplifies mechanotransduction by promoting nuclear translocation of YAP/Runx2, which enhances osteogenesis in vitro and bone regeneration in vivo. The work thus provides fundamental insights into the biological effects of surface potential heterogeneity at the micro- and nanoscale on osteogenesis, and also develops a new strategy to optimize the performance of electroactive biomaterials for tissue regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyang Bai
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xiaona Zheng
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xianwei Zhong
- The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Qun Cui
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Department of Dental Materials & Dental Medical Devices Testing Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Shuan Zhang
- The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Xiufang Wen
- The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China
| | - Boon Chin Heng
- Central Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Shan He
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Lab of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Yang Shen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, State Key Lab of New Ceramics and Fine Processing, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Jinxing Zhang
- Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, P. R. China
| | - Yan Wei
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xuliang Deng
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Department of Geriatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Xuehui Zhang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Dental Materials, National Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Digital Medical Devices, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- Department of Dental Materials & Dental Medical Devices Testing Center, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
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27
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Ketebo AA, Din SU, Lee G, Park S. Mechanobiological Analysis of Nanoparticle Toxicity. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13101682. [PMID: 37242097 DOI: 10.3390/nano13101682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly used in healthcare and nanotherapy, but their toxicity at high concentrations is well-known. Recent research has shown that NPs can also cause toxicity at low concentrations, disrupting various cellular functions and leading to altered mechanobiological behavior. While researchers have used different methods to investigate the effects of NPs on cells, including gene expression and cell adhesion assays, the use of mechanobiological tools in this context has been underutilized. This review emphasizes the importance of further exploring the mechanobiological effects of NPs, which could reveal valuable insights into the mechanisms behind NP toxicity. To investigate these effects, different methods, including the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pillars to study cell motility, traction force production, and rigidity sensing contractions, have been employed. Understanding how NPs affect cell cytoskeletal functions through mechanobiology could have significant implications, such as developing innovative drug delivery systems and tissue engineering techniques, and could improve the safety of NPs for biomedical applications. In summary, this review highlights the significance of incorporating mechanobiology into the study of NP toxicity and demonstrates the potential of this interdisciplinary field to advance our knowledge and practical use of NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdurazak Aman Ketebo
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Shahab Ud Din
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang Lee
- Department of Physiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Park
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Quantum Biophysics, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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28
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Yang Q, Miao Y, Banerjee P, Hourwitz MJ, Hu M, Qing Q, Iglesias PA, Fourkas JT, Losert W, Devreotes PN. Nanotopography modulates intracellular excitable systems through cytoskeleton actuation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218906120. [PMID: 37126708 PMCID: PMC10175780 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218906120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular sensing of most environmental cues involves receptors that affect a signal-transduction excitable network (STEN), which is coupled to a cytoskeletal excitable network (CEN). We show that the mechanism of sensing of nanoridges is fundamentally different. CEN activity occurs preferentially on nanoridges, whereas STEN activity is constrained between nanoridges. In the absence of STEN, waves disappear, but long-lasting F-actin puncta persist along the ridges. When CEN is suppressed, wave propagation is no longer constrained by nanoridges. A computational model reproduces these experimental observations. Our findings indicate that nanotopography is sensed directly by CEN, whereas STEN is only indirectly affected due to a CEN-STEN feedback loop. These results explain why texture sensing is robust and acts cooperatively with multiple other guidance cues in complex, in vivo microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixin Yang
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
- Institute of Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
| | - Yuchuan Miao
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21205
| | - Parijat Banerjee
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218
| | - Matt J. Hourwitz
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
| | - Minxi Hu
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
| | - Quan Qing
- Department of Physics, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85287
| | - Pablo A. Iglesias
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21205
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218
| | - John T. Fourkas
- Institute of Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
| | - Wolfgang Losert
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
- Institute of Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD20742
| | - Peter N. Devreotes
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21205
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29
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Hanafy NAN. Extracellular alkaline pH enhances migratory behaviors of hepatocellular carcinoma cells as a caution against the indiscriminate application of alkalinizing drug therapy: In vitro microscopic studies. Acta Histochem 2023; 125:152032. [PMID: 37119607 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2023.152032] [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: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The migratory process is a highly organized, differentiated, and polarized stage by which many signaling pathways are regulated to control cell migration. Since the significant evidence of migrating cells is the reorganization of the cytoskeleton. In the recent study, the cell migration model was assessed on the fact that any disruption obtained in the cellular monolayer confluent, may cause stimulation for surrounding cells to migrate. We attempt to demonstrate the morphological alterations associated with these migrating cells. In this case, sterilized 1 N NaOH (1 µl) was used as alkaline burnt. It leads to scratching the monolayer of hepatocellular carcinoma (HLF cell line) allowing cells to lose their connection. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy, light inverted microscopy, and dark field were used for discovering the morphological alterations associated with migrating cancer cells. The findings show that cells exhibited distinctive alterations including a polarizing stage, accumulation of the actin nodules in front of the nucleus, and protrusions. Nuclei appeared as lobulated shapes during migration. Lamellipodia and uropod were extended as well. Additionally, TGFβ1 proved its expression in HLF and SNU449 after their stimulation. It is demonstrated that hepatocellular carcinoma cells can migrate after their stimulation and there is a caution against the indiscriminate application of alkalinizing drug therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemany A N Hanafy
- Nanomedicine group, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafrelsheikh, Egypt.
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30
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Kerdegari S, Canepa P, Odino D, Oropesa-Nuñez R, Relini A, Cavalleri O, Canale C. Insights in Cell Biomechanics through Atomic Force Microscopy. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:2980. [PMID: 37109816 PMCID: PMC10142950 DOI: 10.3390/ma16082980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
We review the advances obtained by using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)-based approaches in the field of cell/tissue mechanics and adhesion, comparing the solutions proposed and critically discussing them. AFM offers a wide range of detectable forces with a high force sensitivity, thus allowing a broad class of biological issues to be addressed. Furthermore, it allows for the accurate control of the probe position during the experiments, providing spatially resolved mechanical maps of the biological samples with subcellular resolution. Nowadays, mechanobiology is recognized as a subject of great relevance in biotechnological and biomedical fields. Focusing on the past decade, we discuss the intriguing issues of cellular mechanosensing, i.e., how cells sense and adapt to their mechanical environment. Next, we examine the relationship between cell mechanical properties and pathological states, focusing on cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We show how AFM has contributed to the characterization of pathological mechanisms and discuss its role in the development of a new class of diagnostic tools that consider cell mechanics as new tumor biomarkers. Finally, we describe the unique ability of AFM to study cell adhesion, working quantitatively and at the single-cell level. Again, we relate cell adhesion experiments to the study of mechanisms directly or secondarily involved in pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajedeh Kerdegari
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy; (S.K.); (P.C.); (D.O.); (A.R.)
| | - Paolo Canepa
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy; (S.K.); (P.C.); (D.O.); (A.R.)
| | - Davide Odino
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy; (S.K.); (P.C.); (D.O.); (A.R.)
| | - Reinier Oropesa-Nuñez
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Uppsala University, Ångströmlaboratoriet, Box 35, SE-751 03 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Annalisa Relini
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy; (S.K.); (P.C.); (D.O.); (A.R.)
| | - Ornella Cavalleri
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy; (S.K.); (P.C.); (D.O.); (A.R.)
| | - Claudio Canale
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, 16146 Genova, Italy; (S.K.); (P.C.); (D.O.); (A.R.)
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31
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Ueda Y, Deguchi S. Emergence of multiple set-points of cellular homeostatic tension. J Biomech 2023; 151:111543. [PMID: 36931176 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111543] [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: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Stress fibers (SFs), a contractile actin bundle in nonmuscle mesenchymal cells, are known to intrinsically sustain a constant level of tension or tensional stress, a process called cellular tensional homeostasis. Malfunction in this homeostatic process has been implicated in many diseases such atherosclerosis, but its mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Interestingly, the homeostatic stress in individual SFs is altered upon recruitment of α-smooth muscle actin in particular cellular contexts to reinforce the preexisting SFs. While this transition of the set-point stress is somewhat a universal process observed across different cell types, no clear explanation has been provided as to why cells end up possessing different stable stresses. To address the underlying physics, here we describe that imposing a realistic assumption on the nature of SFs yields the presence of multiple set-points of the homeostatic stress, which transition among them depending on the magnitude of the cellular tension. We analytically derive non-dimensional parameters that characterize the extent of the transition and predict that SFs tend to acquire secondary stable stresses if they are subject to as large a change in stiffness as possible or to as immediate a transition as possible upon increasing the tension. This is a minimal and simple explanation, but given the frequent emergence of force-dependent transformation of various subcellular structures in addition to that of SFs, the theoretical concept presented here would offer an essential guide to addressing potential common mechanisms governing complicated cellular mechanobiological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuika Ueda
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Shinji Deguchi
- Division of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan.
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32
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Giordano S. Temperature dependent model for the quasi-static stick-slip process on a soft substrate. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:1813-1833. [PMID: 36789855 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01262f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The classical Prandtl-Tomlinson model is the most famous and efficient method to describe the stick-slip phenomenon and the resulting friction between a slider and a corrugated substrate. It is widely used in all studies of frictional physics and notably in nanotribology. However, it considers a rigid or undeformable substrate and therefore is hardly applicable for investigating the physics of soft matter and in particular biophysics. For this reason, we introduce here a modified model that is capable of taking into consideration a soft or deformable substrate. It is realized by a sequence of elastically bound quadratic energy wells, which represent the corrugated substrate. We study the quasi-static behavior of the system through the equilibrium statistical mechanics. We thus determine the static friction and the deformation of the substrate as a function of temperature and substrate stiffness. The results are of interest for the study of cell motion in biophysics and for haptic and tactile systems in microtechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Giordano
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, UMR 8520 - IEMN - Institut d*Electronique de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie, F-59000 Lille, France.
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33
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Actin crosslinking by α-actinin averts viscous dissipation of myosin force transmission in stress fibers. iScience 2023; 26:106090. [PMID: 36852278 PMCID: PMC9958379 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Contractile force generated in actomyosin stress fibers (SFs) is transmitted along SFs to the extracellular matrix (ECM), which contributes to cell migration and sensing of ECM rigidity. In this study, we show that efficient force transmission along SFs relies on actin crosslinking by α-actinin. Upon reduction of α-actinin-mediated crosslinks, the myosin II activity induced flows of actin filaments and myosin II along SFs, leading to a decrease in traction force exertion to ECM. The fluidized SFs maintained their cable integrity probably through enhanced actin polymerization throughout SFs. A computational modeling analysis suggested that lowering the density of actin crosslinks caused viscous slippage of actin filaments in SFs and, thereby, dissipated myosin-generated force transmitting along SFs. As a cellular scale outcome, α-actinin depletion attenuated the ECM-rigidity-dependent difference in cell migration speed, which suggested that α-actinin-modulated SF mechanics is involved in the cellular response to ECM rigidity.
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Peng L, Matellan C, Bosch-Fortea M, Gonzalez-Molina J, Frigerio M, Salentinig S, Del Rio Hernandez A, Gautrot JE. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Sense the Toughness of Nanomaterials and Interfaces. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2203297. [PMID: 36717365 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202203297] [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: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells are known to sense and respond to the mechanical properties of biomaterials. In turn, cells exert forces on their environment that can lead to striking changes in shape, size and contraction of associated tissues, and may result in mechanical disruption and functional failure. However, no study has so far correlated stem cell phenotype and biomaterials toughness. Indeed, disentangling toughness-mediated cell response from other mechanosensing processes has remained elusive as it is particularly challenging to uncouple Youngs' or shear moduli from toughness, within a range relevant to cell-generated forces. In this report, it is shown how the design of the macromolecular architecture of polymer nanosheets regulates interfacial toughness, independently of interfacial shear storage modulus, and how this controls the expansion of mesenchymal stem cells at liquid interfaces. The viscoelasticity and toughness of poly(l-lysine) nanosheets assembled at liquid-liquid interfaces is characterised via interfacial shear rheology. The local (microscale) mechanics of nanosheets are characterised via magnetic tweezer-assisted interfacial microrheology and the thickness of these assemblies is determined from in situ ellipsometry. Finally, the response of mesenchymal stem cells to adhesion and culture at corresponding interfaces is investigated via immunostaining and confocal microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Peng
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.,Cellular and Molecular Biomechanical Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Carlos Matellan
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Minerva Bosch-Fortea
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.,Cellular and Molecular Biomechanical Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jordi Gonzalez-Molina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.,Cellular and Molecular Biomechanical Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Matteo Frigerio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Salentinig
- Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, Fribourg, 1700, Switzerland
| | - Armando Del Rio Hernandez
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Julien E Gautrot
- Institute of Bioengineering, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, E1 4NS, London, UK.,Cellular and Molecular Biomechanical Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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Mohagheghian E, Luo J, Yavitt FM, Wei F, Bhala P, Amar K, Rashid F, Wang Y, Liu X, Ji C, Chen J, Arnold DP, Liu Z, Anseth KS, Wang N. Quantifying stiffness and forces of tumor colonies and embryos using a magnetic microrobot. Sci Robot 2023; 8:eadc9800. [PMID: 36696474 PMCID: PMC10098875 DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adc9800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Stiffness and forces are two fundamental quantities essential to living cells and tissues. However, it has been a challenge to quantify both 3D traction forces and stiffness (or modulus) using the same probe in vivo. Here, we describe an approach that overcomes this challenge by creating a magnetic microrobot probe with controllable functionality. Biocompatible ferromagnetic cobalt-platinum microcrosses were fabricated, and each microcross (about 30 micrometers) was trapped inside an arginine-glycine-apartic acid-conjugated stiff poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) round microgel (about 50 micrometers) using a microfluidic device. The stiff magnetic microrobot was seeded inside a cell colony and acted as a stiffness probe by rigidly rotating in response to an oscillatory magnetic field. Then, brief episodes of ultraviolet light exposure were applied to dynamically photodegrade and soften the fluorescent nanoparticle-embedded PEG microgel, whose deformation and 3D traction forces were quantified. Using the microrobot probe, we show that malignant tumor-repopulating cell colonies altered their modulus but not traction forces in response to different 3D substrate elasticities. Stiffness and 3D traction forces were measured, and both normal and shear traction force oscillations were observed in zebrafish embryos from blastula to gastrula. Mouse embryos generated larger tensile and compressive traction force oscillations than shear traction force oscillations during blastocyst. The microrobot probe with controllable functionality via magnetic fields could potentially be useful for studying the mechanoregulation of cells, tissues, and embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erfan Mohagheghian
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Junyu Luo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Laboratory for Cellular Biomechanics and Regenerative Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - F. Max Yavitt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Fuxiang Wei
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Laboratory for Cellular Biomechanics and Regenerative Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Parth Bhala
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Kshitij Amar
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Fazlur Rashid
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yuzheng Wang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Xingchen Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Chenyang Ji
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Laboratory for Cellular Biomechanics and Regenerative Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Junwei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Laboratory for Cellular Biomechanics and Regenerative Medicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - David P. Arnold
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Zhen Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Kristi S. Anseth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, The Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Finney TJ, Frank SL, Bull MR, Guy RD, Kuhl TL. Tracking Mechanical Stress and Cell Migration with Inexpensive Polymer Thin-Film Sensors. ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES 2023; 10:2201808. [PMID: 36817827 PMCID: PMC9937716 DOI: 10.1002/admi.202201808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Polydiacetylene (PDA) Langmuir films are well known for their blue to red chromatic transitions in response to a variety of stimuli, including UV light, heat, bio-molecule bindings and mechanical stress. In this work, we detail the ability to tune PDA Langmuir films to exhibit discrete chromatic transitions in response to applied mechanical stress. Normal and shear-induced transitions were quantified using the Surface Forces Apparatus and established to be binary and tunable as a function of film formation conditions. Both monomer alkyl tail length and metal cations were used to manipulate the chromatic transition force threshold to enable discrete force sensing from ~50 to ~500 nN μm-2 for normal loading and ~2 to ~40 nN μm-2 for shear-induced transitions, which are appropriate for biological cells. The utility of PDA thin-film sensors was demonstrated with the slime mold Physarum polycephalum. The fluorescence readout of the films enabled: the area explored by Physarum to be visualized, the forces involved in locomotion to be quantified, and revealed novel puncta formation potentially associated with Physarum sampling its environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner J Finney
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Skye L Frank
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Michael R Bull
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Robert D Guy
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Tonya L Kuhl
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, United States
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Amer M, Wolfenson H. Measuring Cellular Traction Forces with Micropillar Arrays. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2600:197-206. [PMID: 36587099 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2851-5_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Accurately evaluating cellular forces is critical for studying mechanosensing and mechanotransduction processes, and it necessitates sensitive measurements on the piconewton scale. Here we describe a specialized method that employs elastic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillar arrays, which cells can adhere to and bend. The flexibility of the pillars correlates with their heights; the longer they are, the easier they are to bend. Thus, an array of taller pillars mimics a relatively soft substrate that readily yields in response to cellular forces. Tracking cell movements and pillar displacements using live-cell microscopy enables the calculation of cellular forces and the tracking of their dynamic features throughout early and late stages of cell spreading on the pillars. This technique offers the advantage of high spatial and temporal resolution analyses and constitutes a method to investigate the effect of substrate rigidities on cellular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malak Amer
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Haguy Wolfenson
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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Sonam S, Balasubramaniam L, Lin SZ, Ivan YMY, Jaumà IP, Jebane C, Karnat M, Toyama Y, Marcq P, Prost J, Mège RM, Rupprecht JF, Ladoux B. Mechanical stress driven by rigidity sensing governs epithelial stability. NATURE PHYSICS 2023; 19:132-141. [PMID: 36686215 PMCID: PMC7614076 DOI: 10.1038/s41567-022-01826-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Epithelia act as a barrier against environmental stress and abrasion and in vivo they are continuously exposed to environments of various mechanical properties. The impact of this environment on epithelial integrity remains elusive. By culturing epithelial cells on 2D hydrogels, we observe a loss of epithelial monolayer integrity through spontaneous hole formation when grown on soft substrates. Substrate stiffness triggers an unanticipated mechanical switch of epithelial monolayers from tensile on soft to compressive on stiff substrates. Through active nematic modelling, we find that spontaneous half-integer defect formation underpinning large isotropic stress fluctuations initiate hole opening events. Our data show that monolayer rupture due to high tensile stress is promoted by the weakening of cell-cell junctions that could be induced by cell division events or local cellular stretching. Our results show that substrate stiffness provides feedback on monolayer mechanical state and that topological defects can trigger stochastic mechanical failure, with potential application towards a mechanistic understanding of compromised epithelial integrity during immune response and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surabhi Sonam
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | | | - Shao-Zhen Lin
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | | | - Irina Pi Jaumà
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Cecile Jebane
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Marc Karnat
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
| | - Yusuke Toyama
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Philippe Marcq
- Physique et Mécanique des Milieux Hétérogènes, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Jacques Prost
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Physico-Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR 168, Paris, France
| | - René-Marc Mège
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
| | - Jean-François Rupprecht
- Aix Marseille Univ, Université de Toulon, CNRS, CPT, Turing Center for Living Systems, Marseille, France
- Corresponding authors Dr. Benoit Ladoux, , Dr. Jean-François Rupprecht,
| | - Benoît Ladoux
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75006 Paris, France
- Corresponding authors Dr. Benoit Ladoux, , Dr. Jean-François Rupprecht,
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Zhang M, Zhang S, Shi J, Hu Y, Wu S, Zan Z, Zhao P, Gao C, Du Y, Wang Y, Lin F, Fu X, Li D, Qin P, Fan Z. Cell mechanical responses to subcellular perturbations generated by ultrasound and targeted microbubbles. Acta Biomater 2023; 155:471-481. [PMID: 36400351 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.017] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The inherently dynamic and anisotropic microenvironment of cells imposes not only global and slow physical stimulations on cells but also acute and local perturbations. However, cell mechanical responses to transient subcellular physical signals remain unclear. In this study, acoustically activated targeted microbubbles were used to exert mechanical perturbations to single cells. The cellular contractile force was sensed by elastic micropillar arrays, while the pillar deformations were imaged using brightfield high-speed video microscopy at a frame rate of 1k frames per second for the first 10s and then confocal fluorescence microscopy. Cell mechanical responses are accompanied by cell membrane integrity changes. Both processes are determined by the perturbation strength generated by microbubble volumetric oscillations. The instantaneous cellular traction force relaxation exhibits two distinct patterns, correlated with two cell fates (survival or permanent damage). The mathematical modeling unveils that force-induced actomyosin disassembly leads to gradual traction force relaxation in the first few seconds. The perturbation may also influence the far end subcellular regions from the microbubbles and may propagate into connected cells with attenuations and delays. This study carefully characterizes the cell mechanical responses to local perturbations induced by ultrasound and microbubbles, advancing our understanding of the fundamentals of cell mechano-sensing, -responsiveness, and -transduction. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Subcellular physical perturbations commonly exist but haven't been fully explored yet. The subcellular perturbation generated by ultrasound and targeted microbubbles covers a wide range of strength, from mild, intermediate to intense, providing a broad biomedical relevance. With µm2 spatial sensing ability and up to 1ms temporal resolution, we present spatiotemporal details of the instantaneous cellular contractile force changes followed by attenuated and delayed global responses. The correlation between the cell mechanical responses and cell fates highlights the important role of the instantaneous mechanical responses in the entire cellular reactive processes. Supported by mathematical modeling, our work provides new insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of cell mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiru Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Suyan Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jianmin Shi
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yi Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Shuying Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Zhaoguang Zan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Pu Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Changkai Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yanyao Du
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Feng Lin
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
| | - Xing Fu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Dachao Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Peng Qin
- School of Sensing Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhenzhen Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; State Key Laboratory of Acoustics, Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
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40
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Stolarska MA, Rammohan AR. On the significance of membrane unfolding in mechanosensitive cell spreading: Its individual and synergistic effects. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2023; 20:2408-2438. [PMID: 36899540 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2023113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mechanosensitivity of cell spread area to substrate stiffness has been established both through experiments and different types of mathematical models of varying complexity including both the mechanics and biochemical reactions in the cell. What has not been addressed in previous mathematical models is the role of cell membrane dynamics on cell spreading, and an investigation of this issue is the goal of this work. We start with a simple mechanical model of cell spreading on a deformable substrate and progressively layer mechanisms to account for the traction dependent growth of focal adhesions, focal adhesion induced actin polymerization, membrane unfolding/exocytosis and contractility. This layering approach is intended to progressively help in understanding the role each mechanism plays in reproducing experimentally observed cell spread areas. To model membrane unfolding we introduce a novel approach based on defining an active rate of membrane deformation that is dependent on membrane tension. Our modeling approach allows us to show that tension-dependent membrane unfolding plays a critical role in achieving the large cell spread areas experimentally observed on stiff substrates. We also demonstrate that coupling between membrane unfolding and focal adhesion induced polymerization works synergistically to further enhance cell spread area sensitivity to substrate stiffness. This enhancement has to do with the fact that the peripheral velocity of spreading cells is associated with contributions from the different mechanisms by either enhancing the polymerization velocity at the leading edge or slowing down of the retrograde flow of actin within the cell. The temporal evolution of this balance in the model corresponds to the three-phase behavior observed experimentally during spreading. In the initial phase membrane unfolding is found to be particularly important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena A Stolarska
- Department of Mathematics, 2115 Summit Ave., University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 55105, USA
| | - Aravind R Rammohan
- Corning Life Sciences, Corning Inc., 836 North St, Tewksbury, MA 01876, USA
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The Forces behind Directed Cell Migration. BIOPHYSICA 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/biophysica2040046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Directed cell migration is an essential building block of life, present when an embryo develops, a dendritic cell migrates toward a lymphatic vessel, or a fibrotic organ fails to restore its normal parenchyma. Directed cell migration is often guided by spatial gradients in a physicochemical property of the cell microenvironment, such as a gradient in chemical factors dissolved in the medium or a gradient in the mechanical properties of the substrate. Single cells and tissues sense these gradients, establish a back-to-front polarity, and coordinate the migration machinery accordingly. Central to these steps we find physical forces. In some cases, these forces are integrated into the gradient sensing mechanism. Other times, they transmit information through cells and tissues to coordinate a collective response. At any time, they participate in the cellular migratory system. In this review, we explore the role of physical forces in gradient sensing, polarization, and coordinating movement from single cells to multicellular collectives. We use the framework proposed by the molecular clutch model and explore to what extent asymmetries in the different elements of the clutch can lead to directional migration.
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Staddon MF, Murrell MP, Banerjee S. Interplay between substrate rigidity and tissue fluidity regulates cell monolayer spreading. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7877-7886. [PMID: 36205535 PMCID: PMC9700261 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00757f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Coordinated and cooperative motion of cells is essential for embryonic development, tissue morphogenesis, wound healing and cancer invasion. A predictive understanding of the emergent mechanical behaviors in collective cell motion is challenging due to the complex interplay between cell-cell interactions, cell-matrix adhesions and active cell behaviors. To overcome this challenge, we develop a predictive cellular vertex model that can delineate the relative roles of substrate rigidity, tissue mechanics and active cell properties on the movement of cell collectives. We apply the model to the specific case of collective motion in cell aggregates as they spread into a two-dimensional cell monolayer adherent to a soft elastic matrix. Consistent with recent experiments, we find that substrate stiffness regulates the driving forces for the spreading of cellular monolayer, which can be pressure-driven or crawling-based depending on substrate rigidity. On soft substrates, cell monolayer spreading is driven by an active pressure due to the influx of cells coming from the aggregate, whereas on stiff substrates, cell spreading is driven primarily by active crawling forces. Our model predicts that cooperation of cell crawling and tissue pressure drives faster spreading, while the spreading rate is sensitive to the mechanical properties of the tissue. We find that solid tissues spread faster on stiff substrates, with spreading rate increasing with tissue tension. By contrast, the spreading of fluid tissues is independent of substrate stiffness and is slower than solid tissues. We compare our theoretical results with experimental results on traction force generation and spreading kinetics of cell monolayers, and provide new predictions on the role of tissue fluidity and substrate rigidity on collective cell motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Staddon
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael P Murrell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Physics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Systems Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
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Matsumoto M, Tsuru H, Suginobe H, Narita J, Ishii R, Hirose M, Hashimoto K, Wang R, Yoshihara C, Ueyama A, Tanaka R, Ozono K, Okajima T, Ishida H. Atomic force microscopy identifies the alteration of rheological properties of the cardiac fibroblasts in idiopathic restrictive cardiomyopathy. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275296. [PMID: 36174041 PMCID: PMC9522286 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare disease characterized by increased ventricular stiffness and preserved ventricular contraction. Various sarcomere gene variants are known to cause RCM; however, more than a half of patients do not harbor such pathogenic variants. We recently demonstrated that cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play important roles in inhibiting the diastolic function of cardiomyocytes via humoral factors and direct cell–cell contact regardless of sarcomere gene mutations. However, the mechanical properties of CFs that are crucial for intercellular communication and the cardiomyocyte microenvironment remain less understood. In this study, we evaluated the rheological properties of CFs derived from pediatric patients with RCM and healthy control CFs via atomic force microscopy. Then, we estimated the cellular modulus scale factor related to the cell stiffness, fluidity, and Newtonian viscosity of single cells based on the single power-law rheology model and analyzed the comprehensive gene expression profiles via RNA-sequencing. RCM-derived CFs showed significantly higher stiffness and viscosity and lower fluidity compared to healthy control CFs. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing revealed that the signaling pathways associated with cytoskeleton elements were affected in RCM CFs; specifically, cytoskeletal actin-associated genes (ACTN1, ACTA2, and PALLD) were highly expressed in RCM CFs, whereas several tubulin genes (TUBB3, TUBB, TUBA1C, and TUBA1B) were down-regulated. These results implies that the signaling pathways associated with cytoskeletal elements alter the rheological properties of RCM CFs, particularly those related to CF–cardiomyocyte interactions, thereby leading to diastolic cardiac dysfunction in RCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizuki Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Tsuru
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Suginobe
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jun Narita
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryo Ishii
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaki Hirose
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Hashimoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Renjie Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chika Yoshihara
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ueyama
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Tanaka
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Keiichi Ozono
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takaharu Okajima
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- * E-mail: (HI); (TO)
| | - Hidekazu Ishida
- Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail: (HI); (TO)
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Moriel A, Livne A, Bouchbinder E. Cellular orientational fluctuations, rotational diffusion and nematic order under periodic driving. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7091-7102. [PMID: 36043855 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00611a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The ability of living cells to sense the physical properties of their microenvironment and to respond to dynamic forces acting on them plays a central role in regulating their structure, function and fate. Of particular importance is the cellular sensitivity and response to periodic driving forces in noisy environments, encountered in vital physiological conditions such as heart beating, blood vessel pulsation and breathing. Here, we first test and validate two predictions of a mean-field theory of cellular reorientation under periodic driving, which combines the minimization of cellular anisotropic elastic energy with active remodeling forces. We then extend the mean-field theory to include uncorrelated, additive nonequilibrium fluctuations, and show that the theory quantitatively agrees with the experimentally observed stationary probability distributions of the cell body orientation, under a range of biaxial periodic driving forces. The fluctuations theory allows the extraction of the dimensionless active noise amplitude of various cell types, and consequently their rotational diffusion coefficient. We then focus on intra-cellular nematic order, i.e. on orientational fluctuations of actin stress fibers around the cell body orientation, and show experimentally that intra-cellular nematic order increases with both the magnitude of the driving forces and the biaxiality strain ratio. These results are semi-quantitatively explained by applying the same cell body fluctuations theory to orientationally correlated actin stress fiber domains. Finally, an estimate of the energy scale of cellular orientational fluctuations for one cell type is shown to be about six order of magnitude larger than the thermal energy at room temperature. The implications of our findings, which make the quantitative analysis of cell mechanosensitivity more accessible, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avraham Moriel
- Chemical and Biological Physics Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
| | - Ariel Livne
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
- Diptera.ai, PO Box 39047, Jerusalem 9139002, Israel
| | - Eran Bouchbinder
- Chemical and Biological Physics Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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Chen PC, Feng XQ, Li B. Unified multiscale theory of cellular mechanical adaptations to substrate stiffness. Biophys J 2022; 121:3474-3485. [PMID: 35978549 PMCID: PMC9515123 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rigidity of the extracellular matrix markedly regulates many cellular processes. However, how cells detect and respond to matrix rigidity remains incompletely understood. Here, we propose a unified two-dimensional multiscale framework accounting for the chemomechanical feedback to explore the interrelated cellular mechanosensing, polarization, and migration, which constitute the dynamic cascade in cellular response to matrix stiffness but are often modeled separately in previous theories. By combining integrin dynamics and intracellular force transduction, we show that substrate stiffness can act as a switch to activate or deactivate cell polarization. Our theory quantitatively reproduces rich stiffness-dependent cellular dynamics, including spreading, polarity selection, migration pattern, durotaxis, and even negative durotaxis, reported in a wide spectrum of cell types, and reconciles some inconsistent experimental observations. We find that a specific bipolarized mode can determine the optimal substrate stiffness, which enables the fastest cell migration rather than the largest traction forces that cells apply on the substrate. We identify that such a mechanical adaptation stems from the force balance across the whole cell. These findings could yield universal insights into various stiffness-mediated cellular processes within the context of tissue morphogenesis, wound healing, and cancer invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Cheng Chen
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xi-Qiao Feng
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bo Li
- Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, Applied Mechanics Laboratory, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Missirlis D, Heckmann L, Haraszti T, Spatz JP. Fibronectin anchoring to viscoelastic poly(dimethylsiloxane) elastomers controls fibroblast mechanosensing and directional motility. Biomaterials 2022; 287:121646. [PMID: 35785752 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The established link between deregulated tissue mechanics and various pathological states calls for the elucidation of the processes through which cells interrogate and interpret the mechanical properties of their microenvironment. In this work, we demonstrate that changes in the presentation of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin on the surface of viscoelastic silicone elastomers have an overarching effect on cell mechanosensing, that is independent of bulk mechanics. Reduction of surface hydrophilicity resulted in altered fibronectin adsorption strength as monitored using atomic force microscopy imaging and pulling experiments. Consequently, primary human fibroblasts were able to remodel the fibronectin coating, adopt a polarized phenotype and migrate directionally even on soft elastomers, that otherwise were not able to resist the applied traction forces. The findings presented here provide valuable insight on how cellular forces are regulated by ligand presentation and used by cells to probe their mechanical environment, and have implications on biomaterial design for cell guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Missirlis
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Postal Address: Jahnstr. 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Lara Heckmann
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Postal Address: Jahnstr. 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tamás Haraszti
- DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Postal Address: Forkenbeckstr. 50, D-52056, Aachen, Germany
| | - Joachim P Spatz
- Department of Cellular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Postal Address: Jahnstr. 29, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Biophysical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry Institute, Heidelberg University, Postal Address: INF 253, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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Zhang Y, Habibovic P. Delivering Mechanical Stimulation to Cells: State of the Art in Materials and Devices Design. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2110267. [PMID: 35385176 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202110267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biochemical signals, such as growth factors, cytokines, and transcription factors are known to play a crucial role in regulating a variety of cellular activities as well as maintaining the normal function of different tissues and organs. If the biochemical signals are assumed to be one side of the coin, the other side comprises biophysical cues. There is growing evidence showing that biophysical signals, and in particular mechanical cues, also play an important role in different stages of human life ranging from morphogenesis during embryonic development to maturation and maintenance of tissue and organ function throughout life. In order to investigate how mechanical signals influence cell and tissue function, tremendous efforts have been devoted to fabricating various materials and devices for delivering mechanical stimuli to cells and tissues. Here, an overview of the current state of the art in the design and development of such materials and devices is provided, with a focus on their design principles, and challenges and perspectives for future research directions are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Zhang
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - Pamela Habibovic
- Department of Instructive Biomaterials Engineering, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Universiteitssingel 40, Maastricht, 6229 ER, The Netherlands
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Merino-Casallo F, Gomez-Benito MJ, Martinez-Cantin R, Garcia-Aznar JM. A mechanistic protrusive-based model for 3D cell migration. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151255. [PMID: 35843121 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell migration is essential for a variety of biological processes, such as embryogenesis, wound healing, and the immune response. After more than a century of research-mainly on flat surfaces-, there are still many unknowns about cell motility. In particular, regarding how cells migrate within 3D matrices, which more accurately replicate in vivo conditions. We present a novel in silico model of 3D mesenchymal cell migration regulated by the chemical and mechanical profile of the surrounding environment. This in silico model considers cell's adhesive and nuclear phenotypes, the effects of the steric hindrance of the matrix, and cells ability to degradate the ECM. These factors are crucial when investigating the increasing difficulty that migrating cells find to squeeze their nuclei through dense matrices, which may act as physical barriers. Our results agree with previous in vitro observations where fibroblasts cultured in collagen-based hydrogels did not durotax toward regions with higher collagen concentrations. Instead, they exhibited an adurotactic behavior, following a more random trajectory. Overall, cell's migratory response in 3D domains depends on its phenotype, and the properties of the surrounding environment, that is, 3D cell motion is strongly dependent on the context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Merino-Casallo
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Gomez-Benito
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Ruben Martinez-Cantin
- Robotics, Perception and Real Time Group (RoPeRT), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Department of Computer Science and System Engineering, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Garcia-Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), Zaragoza 50018, Spain; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain.
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Parihar K, Nukpezah J, Iwamoto DV, Janmey PA, Radhakrishnan R. Data driven and biophysical insights into the regulation of trafficking vesicles by extracellular matrix stiffness. iScience 2022; 25:104721. [PMID: 35865140 PMCID: PMC9293776 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomechanical signals from remodeled extracellular matrix (ECM) promote tumor progression. Here, we show that cell-matrix and cell-cell communication may be inherently linked and tuned through mechanisms of mechanosensitive biogenesis of trafficking vesicles. Pan-cancer analysis of cancer cells' mechanical properties (focusing primarily on cell stiffness) on substrates of varied stiffness and composition elucidated a heterogeneous cellular response to mechanical stimuli. Through machine learning, we identified a fingerprint of cytoskeleton-related proteins that accurately characterize cell stiffness in different ECM conditions. Expression of their respective genes correlates with patient prognosis across different tumor types. The levels of selected cytoskeleton proteins indicated that cortical tension mirrors the increase (or decrease) in cell stiffness with a change in ECM stiffness. A mechanistic biophysical model shows that the tendency for curvature generation by curvature-inducing proteins has an ultrasensitive dependence on cortical tension. This study thus highlights the effect of ECM stiffness, mediated by cortical tension, in modulating vesicle biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kshitiz Parihar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jonathan Nukpezah
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel V Iwamoto
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Paul A Janmey
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ravi Radhakrishnan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Nanoscale geometry determines mechanical biocompatibility of vertically aligned nanofibers. Acta Biomater 2022; 146:235-247. [PMID: 35487425 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) are promising material candidates for neural biosensors due to their ability to detect neurotransmitters in physiological concentrations. However, the expected high rigidity of CNFs could induce mechanical mismatch with the brain tissue, eliciting formation of a glial scar around the electrode and thus loss of functionality. We have evaluated mechanical biocompatibility of VACNFs by growing nickel-catalyzed carbon nanofibers of different lengths and inter-fiber distances. Long nanofibers with large inter-fiber distance prevented maturation of focal adhesions, thus constraining cells from obtaining a highly spread morphology that is observed when astrocytes are being contacted with stiff materials commonly used in neural implants. A silicon nanopillar array with 500 nm inter-pillar distance was used to reveal that this inhibition of focal adhesion maturation occurs due to the surface nanoscale geometry, more precisely the inter-fiber distance. Live cell atomic force microscopy was used to confirm astrocytes being significantly softer on the long Ni-CNFs compared to other surfaces, including a soft gelatin hydrogel. We also observed hippocampal neurons to mature and form synaptic contacts when being cultured on both long and short carbon nanofibers, without having to use any adhesive proteins or a glial monoculture, indicating high cytocompatibility of the material also with neuronal population. In contrast, neurons cultured on a planar tetrahedral amorphous carbon sample showed immature neurites and indications of early-stage apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that mechanical biocompatibility of biomaterials is greatly affected by their nanoscale surface geometry, which provides means for controlling how the materials and their mechanical properties are perceived by the cells. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Our research article shows, how nanoscale surface geometry determines mechanical biocompatibility of apparently stiff materials. Specifically, astrocytes were prevented from obtaining highly spread morphology when their adhesion site maturation was inhibited, showing similar morphology on nominally stiff vertically aligned carbon fiber (VACNF) substrates as when being cultured on ultrasoft surfaces. Furthermore, hippocampal neurons matured well and formed synapses on these carbon nanofibers, indicating high biocompatibility of the materials. Interestingly, the same VACNF materials that were used in this study have earlier also been proven to be capable for electrophysiological recordings and sensing neurotransmitters at physiological concentrations with ultra-high sensitivity and selectivity, thus providing a platform for future neural probes or smart culturing surfaces with superior sensing performance and biocompatibility.
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