Viscosity regulates cell spreading and cell-extracellular matrix interactions

Fluid viscosity and osmolarity are among some of the underappreciated mechanical stimuli that cells can detect. Abnormal changes of multiple fluidic factors such as viscosity and osmolarity have been linked with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, cancer, and coronary heart disease. Changes in viscosity have been recently suggested as a regulator of cell locomotion. These novel studies focus on cell migration and spreading on glass substrates and through microchannels, and it remains a question whether viscosity impacts the cellular remodeling of extracellular matrices (ECMs). Here, we demonstrate that elevated viscosity induces cellular remodeling of collagen substrates and enhances cell spreading on ECM-mimetic substrates. Our results expand on recent work showing that viscosity induces increased cellular forces and demonstrates that viscosity can drive local ECM densification. Our data further show that microtubules, Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex, Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK), and myosin are important regulators of viscosity-induced ECM remodeling. In the context of viscosity-induced cell spreading, cells cultured on glass and collagen substrates exhibit markedly different responses to pharmacological treatments, indicating that microtubules, Rac1, and Arp2/3 play distinct roles in regulating cellular spreading depending on the substrate. In addition, our results demonstrate that high osmotic pressures override viscosity-induced cell spreading by suppressing membrane ruffling. Our results demonstrate viscosity as a regulator of ECM remodeling and cell spreading in a fibrillar microenvironment. We also reveal a complex interplay between viscosity and osmolarity. We anticipate that our research can pave the way for future investigations into the crucial roles played by viscosity in both physiological and pathological conditions.