The vimentin cytoskeleton: when polymer physics meets cell biology

Patteson, Alison E.; Carroll, Robert J.; Iwamoto, Daniel V.; Janmey, Paul A.

doi:10.1088/1478-3975/abbcc2

Cited by 36 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 169 publications

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“…We also demonstrate that the cell softening induced by cytochalasin D, another actin-depolymerizing drug, is attenuated in the presence of intermediate filaments (vimentin or desmin), and becomes more pronounced when intermediate filaments are absent. This finding is in support of the notion that intermediate filaments protect mechanically stressed cells against excessive strain and damage 26 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Viscoelastic properties of suspended cells measured with shear flow deformation cytometry

Gerum

Mirzahossein

Eroles

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Numerous cell functions are accompanied by phenotypic changes in viscoelastic properties, and measuring them can help elucidate higher-level cellular functions in health and disease. We present a high-throughput, simple and low-cost microfluidic method for quantitatively measuring the elastic (storage) and viscous (loss) modulus of individual cells. Cells are suspended in a high-viscosity fluid and are pumped with high pressure through a 5.8 cm long and 200 μm wide microfluidic channel. The fluid shear stress induces large, near ellipsoidal cell deformations. In addition, the flow profile in the channel causes the cells to rotate in a tank-treading manner. From the cell deformation and tank treading frequency, we extract the frequency-dependent viscoelastic cell properties based on a theoretical framework developed by R. Roscoe that describes the deformation of a viscoelastic sphere in a viscous fluid under steady laminar flow. We confirm the accuracy of the method using atomic force microscopy-calibrated polyacrylamide beads and cells. Our measurements demonstrate that suspended cells exhibit power-law, soft glassy rheological behavior that is cell cycle-dependent and mediated by the physical interplay between the actin filament and intermediate filament networks.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Viscoelastic properties of suspended cells measured with shear flow deformation cytometry

Gerum

Mirzahossein

Eroles

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…Intermediate filaments are filamentous and highly elastic [22][23][24][25][26], a property that is conferred by their tertiary and quaternary structures. Desmin monomers pair through coiled coils to form parallel dimers that couple into antiparallel tetramers.…”

Section: Desmin Intermediate Filaments: Molecular View and Structural Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New roles for desmin in the maintenance of muscle homeostasis

2021

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Desmin is the primary intermediate filament (IF) of cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle. By linking the contractile myofibrils to the sarcolemma and cellular organelles, desmin IF contributes to muscle structural and cellular integrity, force transmission, and mitochondrial homeostasis. Mutations in desmin cause myofibril misalignment, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired mechanical integrity leading to cardiac and skeletal myopathies in humans, often characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates. Recent evidence indicates that desmin filaments also regulate proteostasis and cell size. In skeletal muscle, changes in desmin filament dynamics can facilitate catabolic events as an adaptive response to a changing environment. In addition, post-translational modifications of desmin and its misfolding in the heart have emerged as key determinants of homeostasis and disease. In this review, we provide an overview of the structural and cellular roles of desmin and propose new models for its novel functions in preserving the homeostasis of striated muscles.

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“…The iCELLigence Label-Free Real-Time Cell Analysis System is a cellular monitor that uses electrical impedance sensors to continuously and quantitatively track the biological state of cells in real time ( Şener et al., 2017 ; Stefanowicz-Hajduk and Ochocka, 2020 ). Vimentin is involved in the regulation of cell behavior, and the vimentin assembly state is sensitive to stimuli that alter cellular tension and morphology ( Patteson et al., 2020 ). However, vimentin can have varying effects on pathogen invasion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vimentin Inhibits Dengue Virus Type 2 Invasion of the Blood-Brain Barrier

Zhou

et al. 2022

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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Dengue virus (DENV) causes dengue fever, which is prevalent in the tropical and subtropical regions, and in recent years, has resulted in several major epidemics. Vimentin, a cytoskeletal component involved in DENV infection, is significantly reorganized during infection. However, the mechanism underlying the association between DENV infection and vimentin is still poorly understood. We generated vimentin-knockout (Vim-KO) human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and a Vim-KO SV129 suckling mouse model, combining the dynamic vimentin changes observed in vitro and differences in disease course in vivo, to clarify the role of vimentin in DENV-2 infection. We found that the phosphorylation and solubility of vimentin changed dynamically during DENV-2 infection of HBMECs, suggesting the regulation of vimentin by DENV-2 infection. The similar trends observed in the phosphorylation and solubility of vimentin showed that these characteristics are related. Compared with that in control cells, the DENV-2 viral load was significantly increased in Vim-KO HBMECs, and after DENV-2 infection, Vim-KO SV129 mice displayed more severe disease signs than wild-type SV129 mice, as well as higher viral loads in their serum and brain tissue, demonstrating that vimentin can inhibit DENV-2 infection. Moreover, Vim-KO SV129 mice had more disordered cerebral cortical nerve cells, confirming that Vim-KO mice were more susceptible to DENV-2 infection, which causes severe brain damage. The findings of our study help clarify the mechanism by which vimentin inhibits DENV-2 infection and provides guidance for antiviral treatment strategies for DENV infections.

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The vimentin cytoskeleton: when polymer physics meets cell biology

Cited by 36 publications

References 169 publications

Viscoelastic properties of suspended cells measured with shear flow deformation cytometry

Viscoelastic properties of suspended cells measured with shear flow deformation cytometry

New roles for desmin in the maintenance of muscle homeostasis

Vimentin Inhibits Dengue Virus Type 2 Invasion of the Blood-Brain Barrier

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