Tissue engineering science: Consequences of cell traction force

Mechanical forces are key regulators of cell and tissue physiology. The basic molecular mechanism of fiber contraction by the sliding of actin filament upon myosin leading to conformational change has been known for decades. The regulation of force generation at the level of the cell, however, is still far from elucidated. Indeed, the magnitude of cell traction forces on the underlying extracellular matrix in culture is almost impossible to predict or experimentally control. The considerable variability in measurements of cell-traction forces indicates that they may not be the optimal readout to properly characterize cell contractile state and that a significant part of the contractile energy is not transferred to cell anchorage but instead is involved in actin network dynamics. Here we discuss the experimental, numerical, and biological parameters that may be responsible for the variability in traction force production. We argue that limiting these sources of variability and investigating the dissipation of mechanical work that occurs with structural rearrangements and the disengagement of force transmission is key for further understanding of cell mechanics.

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Remanent cell traction force in renal vascular smooth muscle cells induced by integrin-mediated mechanotransduction

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.00234.2012 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 304 (4) ◽

pp. C382-C391 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Lavanya Balasubramanian ◽

Chun-Min Lo ◽

James S. K. Sham ◽

Kay-Pong Yip

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Vascular Resistance ◽

Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽

Traction Force ◽

Muscle Cells ◽

Myogenic Response ◽

Cell Traction ◽

Renal Vascular

It was previously demonstrated in isolated renal vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that integrin-mediated mechanotransduction triggers intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, which is the hallmark of myogenic response in VSMCs. To test directly whether integrin-mediated mechanotransduction results in the myogenic response-like behavior in renal VSMCs, cell traction force microscopy was used to monitor cell traction force when the cells were pulled with fibronectin-coated or low density lipoprotein (LDL)-coated paramagnetic beads. LDL-coated beads were used as a control for nonintegrin-mediated mechanotransduction. Pulling with LDL-coated beads increased the cell traction force by 61 ± 12% (9 cells), which returned to the prepull level after the pulling process was terminated. Pulling with noncoated beads had a minimal increase in the cell traction force (12 ± 9%, 8 cells). Pulling with fibronectin-coated beads increased the cell traction force by 56 ± 20% (7 cells). However, the cell traction force was still elevated by 23 ± 14% after the pulling process was terminated. This behavior is analogous to the changes of vascular resistance in pressure-induced myogenic response, in which vascular resistance remains elevated after myogenic constriction. Fibronectin is a native ligand for α5β1-integrins in VSMCs. Similar remanent cell traction force was found when cells were pulled with beads coated with β1-integrin antibody (Ha2/5). Activation of β1-integrin with soluble antibody also triggered variations of cell traction force and Ca2+ mobilization, which were abolished by the Src inhibitor. In conclusion, mechanical force transduced by α5β1-integrins triggered a myogenic response-like behavior in isolated renal VSMCs.

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Abstract 1098: Mechano-molecular imaging of the role of COX-2 in cell traction force.

10.1158/1538-7445.am2013-1098 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

A Rum Yoon ◽

Ioannis Stasinopoulos ◽

Steven An ◽

Zaver M. Bhujwalla

Keyword(s):

Molecular Imaging ◽

Traction Force ◽

Cell Traction ◽

Cox 2

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Large Area Precision Cell Traction Force Measurements Using Gold Disk Mounted Micro-Pillars

2018 IEEE 12th International Conference on Nano/Molecular Medicine and Engineering (NANOMED) ◽

10.1109/nanomed.2018.8641656 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xing Haw Marvin Tan ◽

Angelyn V. Ngyuen ◽

Amy C. Rowat ◽

Pei-Yu Chiou

Keyword(s):

Traction Force ◽

Force Measurements ◽

Large Area ◽

Cell Traction ◽

Micro Pillars

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Alpha-smooth muscle actin expression enhances cell traction force

Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton ◽

10.1002/cm.20178 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 248-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Jianxin Chen ◽

Hongxia Li ◽

Nirmala SundarRaj ◽

James H.-C. Wang

Keyword(s):

Smooth Muscle ◽

Smooth Muscle Actin ◽

Traction Force ◽

Muscle Actin ◽

Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin ◽

Cell Traction ◽

Actin Expression

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Vimentin intermediate filaments modulate cell traction force but not cell sensitivity to substrate stiffness

Cytoskeleton ◽

10.1002/cm.21675 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Minh‐Tri Ho Thanh ◽

Allie Grella ◽

Denis Kole ◽

Sakthikumar Ambady ◽

Qi Wen

Keyword(s):

Intermediate Filaments ◽

Traction Force ◽

Substrate Stiffness ◽

Cell Sensitivity ◽

Cell Traction

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Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy, Cell Adhesion, and Cell Traction Force Measurements on Soft Silicone Gels

Biophysical Journal ◽

10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.3153 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 102 (3) ◽

pp. 579a

Author(s):

Edgar Gutierrez ◽

Alexander Groisman ◽

Eugene Tkachenko

Keyword(s):

Cell Adhesion ◽

Fluorescence Microscopy ◽

Total Internal Reflection ◽

Traction Force ◽

Internal Reflection ◽

Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence ◽

Force Measurements ◽

Cell Traction ◽

Silicone Gels

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Developing a multi-functional sensor for cell traction force, matrix remodeling and biomechanical assays in self-assembled 3D tissues in vitro

10.21203/rs.3.pex-1540/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bashar Emon ◽

M Saddam H Joy ◽

M Taher A Saif

Keyword(s):

Traction Force ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Matrix Remodeling ◽

Tissue Stiffness ◽

Cell Traction ◽

Primary Fibroblasts ◽

Multiple Cell ◽

Cell Matrix Interactions ◽

Cell Force

Abstract Cell-matrix interactions, mediated by cellular force and matrix remodeling, result in a dynamic reciprocity that drives numerous biological processes and disease progression. Currently, there is no available method for direct quantification cell traction force and matrix remodeling in 3D matrices as a function of time. To address this long-standing need, we recently developed a high-resolution microfabricated sensor1 that measures cell force, tissue-stiffness and can apply mechanical stimulation to the tissue. Here the tissue self-assembles and self-integrates with the sensor. With primary fibroblasts, cancer cells and neurons, we demonstrated the feasibility of the sensor by measuring single/multiple cell force with a resolution of 1 nN, and tissue stiffness1 due to matrix remodeling by the cells. The sensor can be translated into a high-throughput system for clinical assays such as patient-specific drug and phenotypic screening. In this paper, we present the detailed protocol for manufacturing the sensors, preparing experimental setup, developing assays with different tissues, and for imaging and analyzing the data.

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