Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

4.3K
The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin...
4.3K
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

10.7K
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved...
10.7K
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

4.8K
4.8K
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

3.8K
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...
3.8K
Cadherins in Tissue Organization01:19

Cadherins in Tissue Organization

4.6K
The cadherins are a superfamily of cell adhesion molecules comprising over 180 variants, with specific tissues expressing a particular combination of cadherin types. Cadherins generally exhibit homophilic binding; i.e., cadherins on one cell bind to cadherins of the same or closely related type on another cell. Thus, cells of the same type have a specific affinity to bind to each other and sort themselves into clusters to form tissues.
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
4.6K
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

6.1K
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...
6.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

mTOR signalling mediates the spinal osteoblast pathotype at the curve apex in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Preclinical Models of Venous Thrombosis: A Critical Appraisal for Translational Research.

Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology·2026
Same author

Non-destructive debridement and tuneable ion release via magnesium abrasion and electro-dissolution promote bone regeneration and osseointegration of infected implants.

Materials today. Bio·2026
Same author

Development and validation of a novel approach for quantifying dimensions of the lateral ligaments in human ankle dissections.

Journal of anatomy·2026
Same author

The fibrous framework: A special issue celebrating Professor Mike Benjamin's impact on connective tissue research.

Journal of anatomy·2026
Same author

Integrating intrinsic musculoskeletal pathology and genetics: Recent advances in unravelling the causative factors of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Bone reports·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
06:02

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: June 10, 2016

13.0K

Exploiting cell-mediated contraction and adhesion to structure tissues in vitro.

Uchena N G Wudebwe1, Alistair Bannerman1, Pola Goldberg-Oppenheimer1

  • 1School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|December 24, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Engineered tissues can now be precisely organized by controlling cell contraction, leading to structured matrices. This advance enables new applications in disease modeling and toxicity testing beyond regenerative medicine.

Keywords:
ceramiccollagenextracellular matrixligamenttendontissue engineering

More Related Videos

Assay of Adhesion Under Shear Stress for the Study of T Lymphocyte-Adhesion Molecule Interactions
07:40

Assay of Adhesion Under Shear Stress for the Study of T Lymphocyte-Adhesion Molecule Interactions

Published on: June 29, 2016

9.2K
Isolation of Primary Human Colon Tumor Cells from Surgical Tissues and Culturing Them Directly on Soft Elastic Substrates for Traction Cytometry
09:28

Isolation of Primary Human Colon Tumor Cells from Surgical Tissues and Culturing Them Directly on Soft Elastic Substrates for Traction Cytometry

Published on: June 4, 2015

16.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 19, 2026

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
06:02

Development of an In Vitro Assay to Evaluate Contractile Function of Mesenchymal Cells that Underwent Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: June 10, 2016

13.0K
Assay of Adhesion Under Shear Stress for the Study of T Lymphocyte-Adhesion Molecule Interactions
07:40

Assay of Adhesion Under Shear Stress for the Study of T Lymphocyte-Adhesion Molecule Interactions

Published on: June 29, 2016

9.2K
Isolation of Primary Human Colon Tumor Cells from Surgical Tissues and Culturing Them Directly on Soft Elastic Substrates for Traction Cytometry
09:28

Isolation of Primary Human Colon Tumor Cells from Surgical Tissues and Culturing Them Directly on Soft Elastic Substrates for Traction Cytometry

Published on: June 4, 2015

16.3K

Area of Science:

  • Tissue engineering
  • Biomaterials science
  • Regenerative medicine

Background:

  • Engineered tissues are increasingly used for disease modeling and toxicity testing.
  • Cell-mediated matrix contraction is often considered undesirable in tissue engineering.
  • Preventing matrix modification by cells is a common strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate the use of cell contraction to generate highly organized engineered tissues.
  • To explore the potential of cell contraction for guiding matrix deposition and tissue structuring.
  • To investigate the molecular and macroscopic organization of in vitro grown tissues.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing the cell contraction process to guide tissue self-organization.
  • Culturing engineered tissues in vitro.
  • Characterizing tissue organization and mechanical properties using analytical techniques.

Main Results:

  • Successfully generated tissues with high levels of structural organization.
  • Demonstrated significant matrix organization from the molecular to macroscopic level.
  • Observed mechanical behavior analogous to natural tissues.

Conclusions:

  • Cell contraction can be strategically exploited to create organized tissue structures.
  • Engineered tissues with controlled organization exhibit properties similar to native tissues.
  • This approach expands the utility of engineered tissues for various biomedical applications.