Modeling Active Mechanosensing in Cell–Matrix Interactions

Chen, Bin; Ji, Baohua; Gao, Huajian

doi:10.1146/annurev-biophys-051013-023102

Cited by 77 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 168 publications

(209 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Specifically, the disruption of contractile activity can lead to the inhibition of cellular alignment [25][26][27] . Nevertheless, a complete understanding of the mechanism by which applied physical forces influence the FA structures and the cytoskeletal remodelling, individually and as concerted dynamics, has yet to be reached [28][29][30][31] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellular Orientation Is Guided by Strain Gradients

Chagnon-Lessard

Jean-Ruel

Godin

et al. 2016

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cyclically stretched cells are known to exhibit a strain-induced reorientation response. In this study, we comprehensively analyse this behaviour for human fibroblasts subjected to a highly non-uniform strain field within a polymethylsiloxane microdevice. We demonstrate a strong correlation between the strain amplitude and the degree of cell alignment perpendicular to the principal strain direction (stretching avoidance). Analogously, our results indicate that the strain gradient amplitude and direction also regulate this reorientation through a coordinated gradient avoidance response. We stipulate that strain gradients are thus biologically relevant mechanical cues sensed by cells. To gain insight into the underlying mechanosensing processes, we also studied focal adhesion reorganization and the effect of modulating myosin-II contractility. The extracted focal adhesion orientation distributions are similar to those obtained for the cell bodies, and their density is increased by the presence of stretching forces. Moreover, it was found that the myosin-II activity promoter calyculin-A has little effect on the cellular response, while the inhibitor blebbistatin suppresses cell and focal adhesion alignment and reduces focal adhesion density.These results confirm that similar internal structures involved in sensing and responding to strain direction and amplitude are also key players in strain gradient mechanosensing and avoidance.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cellular Orientation Is Guided by Strain Gradients

Chagnon-Lessard

Jean-Ruel

Godin

et al. 2016

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Single cells respond to the dimensionality of their environment [12,13], with notable differences between cells on flat surfaces and those surrounded by a 3D environment [14]. In vivo, cells are unlikely being constrained to flat surfaces [15] but, as long as the curvature is small, cells may behave as if the surface is flat [16]. For cell agglomerates and tissues the situation is different as cells can then mechanically interact with each other as well as with their physical environment [17][18][19].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface tension determines tissue shape and growth kinetics

Ehrig

Bidan

West

et al. 2018

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…This process was first described at actin‐based junctions between cells and the extracellular matrix (focal contacts) (Riveline et al., ; Galbraith et al., ). However, mechanosensing at cell–substrate junctions will not be discussed here (see (Chen et al., ) and (Hytonen and Wehrle‐Haller, ) for recent reviews): we will focus on the role of apical cell–cell junctions and associated cytoskeleton, and primarily on the junctional proteins, which have been shown to interact directly with the cytoskeleton.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of apical cell–cell junctions and associated cytoskeleton in mechanotransduction

Sluysmans

Vasileva

Spadaro

et al. 2017

Biology of the Cell

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Tissues of multicellular organisms are characterised by several types of specialised cell-cell junctions. In vertebrate epithelia and endothelia, tight and adherens junctions (AJ) play critical roles in barrier and adhesion functions, and are connected to the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. The interaction between junctions and the cytoskeleton is crucial for tissue development and physiology, and is involved in the molecular mechanisms governing cell shape, motility, growth and signalling. The machineries which functionally connect tight and AJ to the cytoskeleton comprise proteins which either bind directly to cytoskeletal filaments, or function as adaptors for regulators of the assembly and function of the cytoskeleton. In the last two decades, specific cytoskeleton-associated junctional molecules have been implicated in mechanotransduction, revealing the existence of multimolecular complexes that can sense mechanical cues and translate them into adaptation to tensile forces and biochemical signals. Here, we summarise the current knowledge about the machineries that link tight and AJ to actin filaments and microtubules, and the molecular basis for mechanotransduction at epithelial and endothelial AJ.

show abstract

Modeling Active Mechanosensing in Cell–Matrix Interactions

Cited by 77 publications

References 168 publications

Cellular Orientation Is Guided by Strain Gradients

Cellular Orientation Is Guided by Strain Gradients

Surface tension determines tissue shape and growth kinetics

The role of apical cell–cell junctions and associated cytoskeleton in mechanotransduction

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About