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Liew HY, Liew XH, Lin WX, Lee YZ, Ong YS, Ogawa S, Chong LH. Cellular Traction Force Holds the Potential as a Drug Testing Readout for In Vitro Cancer Metastasis. Cell Mol Bioeng 2024; 17:203-217. [PMID: 39050509 PMCID: PMC11263313 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-024-00811-4] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Metastasis is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths worldwide. However, the potential inhibitory effects of metastasis by various anticancer drugs have been left largely unexplored. Existing preclinical models primarily focus on antiproliferative agents on the primary tumor to halt the cancer growth but not in metastasis. Unlike primary tumors, metastasis requires cancer cells to exert sufficient cellular traction force through the actomyosin machinery to migrate away from the primary tumor site. Therefore, we seek to explore the potential of cellular traction force as a novel readout for screening drugs that target cancer metastasis. Methods In vitro models of invasive and non-invasive breast cancer were first established using MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. Cellular morphology was characterized, revealing spindle-like morphology in MDA-MB-231 and spherical morphology in MCF-7 cells. The baseline cellular traction force was quantified using the Traction force Microscopy technique. Cisplatin, a paradigm antimetastatic drug, and 5-Fluorouracil (5FU), a non-antimetastatic drug, were selected to evaluate the potential of cellular traction force as a drug testing readout for the in vitro cancer metastasis. Results MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited significantly higher baseline cellular traction force compared to MCF-7 cells. Treatment with Cisplatin, an antimetastatic drug, and 5-Fluorouracil (5FU), a non-antimetastatic drug, demonstrated distinct effects on cellular traction force in MDA-MB-231 but not in MCF-7 cells. These findings correlate with the invasive potential observed in the two models. Conclusion Cellular traction force emerges as a promising metric for evaluating drug efficacy in inhibiting cancer metastasis using in vitro models. This approach could enhance the screening and development of novel anti-metastatic therapies, addressing a critical gap in current anticancer drug research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yan Liew
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Xiao Hui Liew
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Wei Xuan Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Yee Zhen Lee
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Yong Sze Ong
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Satoshi Ogawa
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Lor Huai Chong
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Malaysia
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2
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Phua DY, Sun X, Alushin GM. Force-activated zyxin assemblies coordinate actin nucleation and crosslinking to orchestrate stress fiber repair. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.17.594765. [PMID: 38798419 PMCID: PMC11118565 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.17.594765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
As the cytoskeleton sustains cell and tissue forces, it incurs physical damage that must be repaired to maintain mechanical homeostasis. The LIM-domain protein zyxin detects force-induced ruptures in actin-myosin stress fibers, coordinating downstream repair factors to restore stress fiber integrity through unclear mechanisms. Here, we reconstitute stress fiber repair with purified proteins, uncovering detailed links between zyxin's force-regulated binding interactions and cytoskeletal dynamics. In addition to binding individual tensed actin filaments (F-actin), zyxin's LIM domains form force-dependent assemblies that bridge broken filament fragments. Zyxin assemblies engage repair factors through multi-valent interactions, coordinating nucleation of new F-actin by VASP and its crosslinking into aligned bundles by ɑ-actinin. Through these combined activities, stress fiber repair initiates within the cores of micron-scale damage sites in cells, explaining how these F-actin depleted regions are rapidly restored. Thus, zyxin's force-dependent organization of actin repair machinery inherently operates at the network scale to maintain cytoskeletal integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donovan Y.Z. Phua
- Laboratory of Structural Biophysics and Mechanobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiaoyu Sun
- Laboratory of Structural Biophysics and Mechanobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory M. Alushin
- Laboratory of Structural Biophysics and Mechanobiology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Wu Z, Wu D, Zhong Q, Zou X, Liu Z, Long H, Wei J, Li X, Dai F. The role of zyxin in signal transduction and its relationship with diseases. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1371549. [PMID: 38712343 PMCID: PMC11070705 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1371549] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
This review highlighted the pivotal role of zyxin, an essential cell focal adhesions protein, in cellular biology and various diseases. Zyxin can orchestrate the restructuring and dynamic alterations of the cellular cytoskeleton, which is involved in cell proliferation, adhesion, motility, and gene transcription. Aberrant zyxin expression is closely correlated with tumor cell activity and cardiac function in both tumorigenesis and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, in fibrotic and inflammatory conditions, zyxin can modulate cellular functions and inflammatory responses. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of zyxin is crucial for deciphering signal transduction networks and disease pathogenesis. Investigating its role in diseases holds promise for novel avenues in early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, targeting zyxin as a therapeutic focal point presents challenges in terms of specificity, safety, drug delivery, and resistance. Nonetheless, in-depth studies on zyxin and the application of precision medicine could offer new possibilities for personalized treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelan Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Daiqin Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Qin Zhong
- Clinical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xue Zou
- Clinical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhongjing Liu
- Clinical Research Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Hehua Long
- School of Clinical Laboratory Science, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xia Li
- Guizhou Precision Medicine Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Fangjie Dai
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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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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Kliewe F, Siegerist F, Hammer E, Al-Hasani J, Amling TRJ, Hollemann JZE, Schindler M, Drenic V, Simm S, Amann K, Daniel C, Lindenmeyer M, Hecker M, Völker U, Endlich N. Zyxin is important for the stability and function of podocytes, especially during mechanical stretch. Commun Biol 2024; 7:446. [PMID: 38605154 PMCID: PMC11009394 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06125-5] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Podocyte detachment due to mechanical stress is a common issue in hypertension-induced kidney disease. This study highlights the role of zyxin for podocyte stability and function. We have found that zyxin is significantly up-regulated in podocytes after mechanical stretch and relocalizes from focal adhesions to actin filaments. In zyxin knockout podocytes, we found that the loss of zyxin reduced the expression of vinculin and VASP as well as the expression of matrix proteins, such as fibronectin. This suggests that zyxin is a central player in the translation of mechanical forces in podocytes. In vivo, zyxin is highly up-regulated in patients suffering from diabetic nephropathy and in hypertensive DOCA-salt treated mice. Furthermore, zyxin loss in mice resulted in proteinuria and effacement of podocyte foot processes that was measured by super resolution microscopy. This highlights the essential role of zyxin for podocyte maintenance in vitro and in vivo, especially under mechanical stretch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Kliewe
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Florian Siegerist
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Elke Hammer
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jaafar Al-Hasani
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Maximilian Schindler
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Vedran Drenic
- NIPOKA GmbH, Center of High-End Imaging, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Stefan Simm
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kerstin Amann
- Department of Nephropathology; Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christoph Daniel
- Department of Nephropathology; Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maja Lindenmeyer
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Hecker
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Uwe Völker
- Interfaculty Institute for Genetics and Functional Genomics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Nicole Endlich
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- NIPOKA GmbH, Center of High-End Imaging, Greifswald, Germany
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Zhang S, Chong LH, Woon JYX, Chua TX, Cheruba E, Yip AK, Li HY, Chiam KH, Koh CG. Zyxin regulates embryonic stem cell fate by modulating mechanical and biochemical signaling interface. Commun Biol 2023; 6:62. [PMID: 36653484 PMCID: PMC9849324 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04421-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Biochemical signaling and mechano-transduction are both critical in regulating stem cell fate. How crosstalk between mechanical and biochemical cues influences embryonic development, however, is not extensively investigated. Using a comparative study of focal adhesion constituents between mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) and their differentiated counterparts, we find while zyxin is lowly expressed in mESCs, its levels increase dramatically during early differentiation. Interestingly, overexpression of zyxin in mESCs suppresses Oct4 and Nanog. Using an integrative biochemical and biophysical approach, we demonstrate involvement of zyxin in regulating pluripotency through actin stress fibres and focal adhesions which are known to modulate cellular traction stress and facilitate substrate rigidity-sensing. YAP signaling is identified as an important biochemical effector of zyxin-induced mechanotransduction. These results provide insights into the role of zyxin in the integration of mechanical and biochemical cues for the regulation of embryonic stem cell fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songjing Zhang
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lor Huai Chong
- Bioinformatics Institute A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore.,School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Jessie Yong Xing Woon
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Theng Xuan Chua
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Ai Kia Yip
- Bioinformatics Institute A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hoi-Yeung Li
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Cheng-Gee Koh
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
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Hakeem RM, Subramanian BC, Hockenberry MA, King ZT, Butler MT, Legant WR, Bear JE. A Photopolymerized Hydrogel System with Dual Stiffness Gradients Reveals Distinct Actomyosin-Based Mechano-Responses in Fibroblast Durotaxis. ACS NANO 2023; 17:197-211. [PMID: 36475639 PMCID: PMC9839609 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c05941] [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] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Durotaxis, migration of cells directed by a stiffness gradient, is critical in development and disease. To distinguish durotaxis-specific migration mechanisms from those on uniform substrate stiffnesses, we engineered an all-in-one photopolymerized hydrogel system containing areas of stiffness gradients with dual slopes (steep and shallow), adjacent to uniform stiffness (soft and stiff) regions. While fibroblasts rely on nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) activity and the LIM-domain protein Zyxin, ROCK and the Arp2/3 complex are surprisingly dispensable for durotaxis on either stiffness gradient. Additionally, loss of either actin-elongator Formin-like 3 (FMNL3) or actin-bundler fascin has little impact on durotactic response on stiffness gradients. However, lack of Arp2/3 activity results in a filopodia-based durotactic migration that is equally as efficient as that of lamellipodia-based durotactic migration. Importantly, we uncover essential and specific roles for FMNL3 and fascin in the formation and asymmetric distribution of filopodia during filopodia-based durotaxis response to the stiffness gradients. Together, our tunable all-in-one hydrogel system serves to identify both conserved as well as distinct molecular mechanisms that underlie mechano-responses of cells experiencing altered slopes of stiffness gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reem M Hakeem
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Bhagawat C Subramanian
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Max A Hockenberry
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Zayna T King
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Mitchell T Butler
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Wesley R Legant
- Department of Pharmacology, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - James E Bear
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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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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