Recent advances in biological uses of traction force microscopy

Cho, Youngbin; Park, Eun Young; Ko, Eunmin; Park, Jin-Sung; Shin, Jennifer Hyunjong

doi:10.1007/s12541-016-0166-x

Cited by 12 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…TFM can further be used to study cell aggregates and tissue [ 179 ], and techniques have been developed that can track forces of cells embedded in gels, which allow for the study of stresses in three-dimensional systems mimicking physiological conditions [ 180 ]. TFM substrates can also be incorporated into many other devices [ 181 ], including microfluidic channels [ 182 , 183 ] or cell stretchers [ 184 ], and have been used to study force generation during morphogenesis [ 185 ]. While it is difficult to track forces inside tissues due to the lack of a substrate, droplets have been introduced into tissues, and their deformation has been used to determine cell-generated forces [ 186 ].…”

Section: Cellular Force Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Measurements of Cellular Forces and their Importance in the Lung—From the Sub- to the Multicellular Scale

Kolb

Schundner

Frick

et al. 2021

Life

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Throughout life, the body is subjected to various mechanical forces on the organ, tissue, and cellular level. Mechanical stimuli are essential for organ development and function. One organ whose function depends on the tightly connected interplay between mechanical cell properties, biochemical signaling, and external forces is the lung. However, altered mechanical properties or excessive mechanical forces can also drive the onset and progression of severe pulmonary diseases. Characterizing the mechanical properties and forces that affect cell and tissue function is therefore necessary for understanding physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. In recent years, multiple methods have been developed for cellular force measurements at multiple length scales, from subcellular forces to measuring the collective behavior of heterogeneous cellular networks. In this short review, we give a brief overview of the mechanical forces at play on the cellular level in the lung. We then focus on the technological aspects of measuring cellular forces at many length scales. We describe tools with a subcellular resolution and elaborate measurement techniques for collective multicellular units. Many of the technologies described are by no means restricted to lung research and have already been applied successfully to cells from various other tissues. However, integrating the knowledge gained from these multi-scale measurements in a unifying framework is still a major future challenge.

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Section: Cellular Force Measurementmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Vitro Measurements of Cellular Forces and their Importance in the Lung—From the Sub- to the Multicellular Scale

Kolb

Schundner

Frick

et al. 2021

Life

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show abstract

“…In this way, TFM has been applied to observe spatiotemporal patterns of forces in settings that are more representative of physiological and pathological in vivo conditions ( Cho et al, 2016 ). As a major outcome, this technique could have a pivotal role in the development of in vitro cell culture models of several diseases, especially if associated with changes in cell contractility (e.g., hypertension, muscle dystrophy, etc.…”

Section: Traction Force Microscopy (Tfm)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomechanical Characterization at the Cell Scale: Present and Prospects

et al. 2018

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The rapidly growing field of mechanobiology demands for robust and reproducible characterization of cell mechanical properties. Recent achievements in understanding the mechanical regulation of cell fate largely rely on technological platforms capable of probing the mechanical response of living cells and their physico–chemical interaction with the microenvironment. Besides the established family of atomic force microscopy (AFM) based methods, other approaches include optical, magnetic, and acoustic tweezers, as well as sensing substrates that take advantage of biomaterials chemistry and microfabrication techniques. In this review, we introduce the available methods with an emphasis on the most recent advances, and we discuss the challenges associated with their implementation.

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“…Living cells employ a diversity of feedback mechanisms during their lifetime and generation of biomechanical force is one of them [1][2][3]. Biomechanical forces at the cellular level impact biological functions of the cell such as cellular growth, development, division, adhesion, and progression of pathological processes [4][5][6]. In addition, biomechanical forces generated by cells such as pushing, pulling or crawling are particularly important during their physical interaction with underlying extracellular matrix (ECM) and with their neighboring cells [1][2][3][4][5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Biomechanical forces at the cellular level impact biological functions of the cell such as cellular growth, development, division, adhesion, and progression of pathological processes [4][5][6]. In addition, biomechanical forces generated by cells such as pushing, pulling or crawling are particularly important during their physical interaction with underlying extracellular matrix (ECM) and with their neighboring cells [1][2][3][4][5]. To quantify cell-generated biomechanical forces, researchers have developed several in vitro experimental techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To quantify cell-generated biomechanical forces, researchers have developed several in vitro experimental techniques. These force sensing techniques are either force sensing at the cell-substrate level or force sensing at the intercellular level [3][4][5]. Forces produced at the cell-substrate level are actomyosin mediated contractility passed to the ECM via focal adhesions of the cell and are commonly known as traction forces or simply as "tractions" [2][3][4][5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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