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Related Concept Videos

Mesenchymal Stem Cells01:19

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
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Stem Cell Niche

The stem cell niche is the dynamic microenvironment where stem cells reside. Inside these niches, the cells may remain undifferentiated, undergo high self-renewal, or become lineage-specific progenitors. Stem cells coexist with other niche cells, such as stromal cells. They also interact closely with the ECM. Cell-cell and cell-matrix communication occur via adhesion molecules or soluble factors that signal the stem cells and determine their fate. Stromal cells also provide survival signals to...
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-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. 
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Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy01:21

Satellite Stem Cells and Muscular Dystrophy

Satellite stem cells or myosatellite cells are quiescent stem cells that Alexander Mauro first identified in 1961. These cells are located between the sarcolemma, the plasma membrane of muscle fibers, and the basal lamina, the connective tissue sheath covering it. These mononucleated cells are activated in response to muscle injury, can transform into myoblasts, and may form or repair muscle fibers. Myosatellite cells can provide additional myonuclei for muscle regeneration or return to a...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events
08:30

Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events

Published on: August 27, 2019

Mesenchymal stem cell durotaxis depends on substrate stiffness gradient strength.

Ludovic G Vincent1, Yu Suk Choi, Baldomero Alonso-Latorre

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.

Biotechnology Journal
|February 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) migrate towards stiffer environments, with migration speed increasing with stiffness gradient strength. Microtubules are crucial for directed migration, while actin is essential for overall cell movement.

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Single Cell Durotaxis Assay for Assessing Mechanical Control of Cellular Movement and Related Signaling Events
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Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture on Polyvinyl Alcohol-Co-Itaconic Acid Hydrogels with Varying Stiffness Under Xeno-Free Conditions
11:37

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Culture on Polyvinyl Alcohol-Co-Itaconic Acid Hydrogels with Varying Stiffness Under Xeno-Free Conditions

Published on: February 3, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Cell Biology
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit mechanosensitivity, responding to the elasticity of their microenvironment.
  • Tissue stiffness gradients, both physiological and pathological, influence MSC behavior and differentiation.
  • Understanding MSC migration in response to mechanical cues is vital for regenerative medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and utilize polyacrylamide stiffness gradients to investigate MSC migration dynamics.
  • To quantify the effect of gradient strength and range on MSC migration velocity and direction.
  • To elucidate the roles of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton in MSC mechanotaxis.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of polyacrylamide stiffness gradients with controlled physiological, pathological, and step-change strengths.
  • Quantitative analysis of MSC migration using time-lapse microscopy on stiffness gradients (1-12 kPa).
  • Pharmacological disruption of actin (cytochalasin) and microtubule (nocodazole) cytoskeletons, and stimulation with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA).

Main Results:

  • MSCs consistently migrated towards the stiffest region of the substrate across all tested gradients.
  • MSC migration velocity showed a direct correlation with the strength of the stiffness gradient.
  • Directed migration was impaired by LPA and nocodazole, with nocodazole treatment significantly reducing traction forces.

Conclusions:

  • MSC migration is directed by substrate stiffness, with a preference for stiffer regions.
  • A functional actin cytoskeleton is necessary for MSC migration, while microtubules are critical for directional sensing and movement.
  • These findings suggest MSCs may accumulate in stiffer tissues in vivo, potentially enhancing their role in tissue repair.