Techniques to stimulate and interrogate cell-cell adhesion mechanics.

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Cell-cell adhesions are critical for maintaining multicellular tissue integrity.
• These adhesions function as mechanotransducers, converting mechanical forces into biochemical signals.
• Research has historically focused on cell-substrate focal adhesions, but cell-cell junctions are gaining attention due to disease associations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review established experimental techniques for stimulating and interrogating cell-cell adhesion junctions.
• To address the growing need for methods to study intercellular signaling hubs.
• To provide a resource for researchers investigating the role of cell-cell adhesion in health and disease.

Main Methods:

• The review covers techniques applicable to studying cell-cell adhesion from individual cell pairs to cell monolayers.
• Established experimental approaches for both stimulation and interrogation of these junctions are discussed.
• Methods leverage advancements in systems interfacing with living cells.

Main Results:

• The review consolidates information on existing experimental techniques for cell-cell adhesion research.
• It highlights the importance of studying these junctions in the context of mechanotransduction.
• The findings underscore the relevance of cell-cell adhesion to disease states.

Conclusions:

• New experimental techniques are required to fully interrogate and stimulate cell-cell adhesive junctions.
• Understanding cell-cell adhesion mechanotransduction is crucial for deciphering disease mechanisms.
• This review provides a foundation for future research in this emerging area.