Methods for studying mechanical control of angiogenesis by the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix

Mechanical forces that capillary endothelial cells generate in their cytoskeleton and exert on their extracellular matrix adhesions feed back to modulate cell sensitivity to soluble angiogenic factors, and thereby control vascular development. Here we describe various genetic, biochemical, and engineering methods that can be used to study, manipulate, and probe this physical mechanism of developmental control. These techniques are useful as in vitro angiogenesis models and for analyzing the molecular and biophysical basis of vascular control.