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Negative feedback from integrins to cadherins: a micromechanical study
Alia Al-Kilani1, Olivier de Freitas, Sylvie Dufour
1Laboratoire Matière et Systèmes Complexes, UMR CNRS 7057 Université Paris-Diderot, Paris, France.
Biophysical Journal
|July 20, 2011
Summary
Cell-matrix adhesion negatively impacts cell-cell adhesion. Increased cell spreading area weakens E-cadherin bead-cell contact rigidity and slows contact formation, revealing a feedback mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biophysics
- Adhesion Dynamics
- Mechanobiology
Background:
- Cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion systems are crucial for tissue cohesion and cellular adhesive stability.
- Integrin-cadherin crosstalk significantly influences cell adhesion properties.
- Understanding this interplay is vital for comprehending tissue development and disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess the integrin-cadherin crosstalk under controlled conditions.
- To investigate how cell-matrix contact area affects cell-cell adhesion mechanics.
- To elucidate the feedback mechanisms between cell-fibronectin and cell-cell adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Cells were plated on microprinted fibronectin patterns of varying sizes.
- Intercellular contact was simulated using E-cadherin coated microbeads.
- Optical trapping was employed to measure the rigidity modulus of bead-cell contacts over time and varying cell spreading areas.
Main Results:
- The rigidity modulus of E-cadherin bead-cell contacts decreased by three orders of magnitude as cell-matrix contact area increased from 100 to 700 μm².
- Contact formation dynamics slowed significantly with increasing cell-matrix contact area.
- A strong negative feedback from cell-fibronectin adhesion onto cell-cell adhesion was observed.
Conclusions:
- Cell-matrix adhesion exerts a potent negative feedback on cell-cell adhesion.
- The cell spreading area is a critical regulator of cell-cell contact stability and formation dynamics.
- These findings provide insights into the mechanisms governing tissue cohesion and cellular mechanics.
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