Macrophage phenotype bioengineered by magnetic, genetic, or pharmacologic interference
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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Pharmacological and Functional Genetic Assays to Manipulate Regeneration of the Planarian Dugesia japonica
Published on: August 31, 2011
Jarek Wosik1,2, Martha Suarez-Villagran3,4, John H Miller3,4
1Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA. jarek@uh.edu.
Abstract:
In all eukaryotes, the cell shape depends on the actin filament cytoskeleton, which is regulated by the small GTPase RhoA. It is well known that the cell shape determines cell function and behavior. Inversely, any change in the cell behavior and/or function reverberates at the cell shape. In this review, we describe how mechanical/magnetic, genetic, or pharmacologic interference with the actin cytoskeleton enforces changes in cell shape and function and how such techniques can be used to control the phenotype and functions of immune cells such as macrophages and to develop novel anti-cancer and anti-rejection clinical therapies.
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