Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
11:43
Concentric Gel System to Study the Biophysical Role of Matrix Microenvironment on 3D Cell Migration
Published on: April 3, 2015
Dynamic protrusive cell behaviour generates force and drives early matrix contraction by fibroblasts
Annegret H Dahlmann-Noor1, Belen Martin-Martin, Mark Eastwood
1Division of Cell Biology, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, UK.
Experimental Cell Research
|September 18, 2007
Summary
Ocular fibroblasts exhibit distinct matrix contraction abilities, influenced by cell size, intrinsic force, and dynamic activity. These factors predict tissue contraction and scarring potential, offering new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Biomechanical Engineering
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Tissue contraction and remodeling are critical in wound healing and fibrosis.
- Understanding fibroblast behavior in 3D matrices is essential for predicting tissue outcomes.
- Ocular tissues, including cornea, Tenon's, and sclera, have unique fibroblast populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular mechanisms of force generation and matrix contraction by ocular fibroblasts.
- To identify key factors determining fibroblast-mediated matrix contraction.
- To develop novel methods for quantifying cell behavior and matrix remodeling in 3D.
Main Methods:
- Utilized human corneal, Tenon's, and scleral fibroblasts in a standard collagen matrix.
- Employed timelapse light and confocal reflection microscopy for simultaneous cell and matrix analysis.
- Developed a novel simultaneous imaging and micro-culture force monitor system (SIM-CFM) to measure mechanical strain and cell behavior.
Main Results:
- Ocular fibroblasts displayed significant differences in matrix contraction, with corneal fibroblasts showing the strongest and scleral the weakest contraction.
- Identified four key factors influencing early matrix contraction: cell size, intrinsic cellular force, dynamic cell protrusive activity, and net pericellular matrix displacement.
- Intrinsic cellular force and dynamic protrusive activity were found to be independent characteristics of each cell type, potentially predicting matrix contraction.
Conclusions:
- Cellular force generation and dynamic activity are critical determinants of ocular fibroblast-mediated matrix contraction.
- These findings offer new possibilities for predicting tissue contraction and scarring.
- Targeting intracellular pathways involved in protrusive activity and force generation may allow modulation of tissue contraction.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue.
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
01:16Cell Motility through Blebbing
Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
01:19Cell Migration
Cell migration is a process by which the cells move from one location to another, playing an essential role in embryological development, repair and regeneration, immune response, and metastasis. Cells migrate in response to chemical or mechanical signals generated by specific organs or tissues. The overall mechanism includes three steps - polarization, protrusion, and release. Polarization involves the formation of a distinct cell front and rear, which determines the direction of movement.
01:09Cell Migration
Cell migration, the process by which cells move from one location to another, is essential for the proper development and viability of organisms throughout their life. When cells are not able to migrate properly to their ordained locations, various disorders may occur. For example, disruption in cell migration causes chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
01:18Role of Myosin in Cell Migration
Myosins are multimeric motor proteins involved in various cellular processes such as migration, adhesion, and proliferation. Myosin II is the most common type in animal cells, which binds and cross-links actin filaments.
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...
Myosin II is a hexamer comprising two heavy chains with globular heads and coiled-coil tails, two regulatory light chains, and two essential light chains. The ATPase sites on the myosin heads hydrolyze ATP, and the released phosphate generates the force for contraction. It is...
01:10The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells
Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They are held...