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Analyzing Cell Surface Adhesion Remodeling in Response to Mechanical Tension Using Magnetic Beads
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Programmable and Reversible Integrin-Mediated Cell Adhesion Reveals Hysteresis in Actin Kinetics that Alters
Zheng Zhang1,2, Hongyuan Zhu1,2, Guoqing Zhao1,2
1The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|October 18, 2023
Summary
Cyclic cell adhesion dynamically alters how human mesenchymal stem cells sense extracellular matrix stiffness. This memory effect in F-actin changes cell responses, differing from static substrate results.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and ECM stiffness dynamically regulate cellular mechanosensing.
- Independent characterization of these factors has been challenging due to difficulties in controlling them separately.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel system for independently controlling dynamic cell adhesion and ECM stiffness.
- To investigate the distinct effects of cyclic cell adhesion on cellular mechanosensing.
Main Methods:
- A DNA-driven molecular system was engineered to reversibly present the RGD ligand for controlled cell attachment and detachment.
- Experiments were conducted on substrates with defined stiffness using this system.
- Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were utilized to study cytoskeletal dynamics and nuclear mechanosensing.
Main Results:
- Cyclic cell adhesion was found to accelerate F-actin kinetics and nuclear mechanosensing in hMSCs.
- Hysteresis in cellular response was observed, significantly altering how hMSCs transduce ECM stiffness.
- Results diverged from established mechanotransduction models for static substrates.
Conclusions:
- Cyclic integrin-mediated adhesion introduces a transient, hysteretic memory into hMSCs' mechanosensing of ECM stiffness.
- This memory, potentially stored in F-actin structures, leads to distinct cellular responses compared to static adhesion conditions.
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