Measuring mechanical properties in cells: three easy methods for biologists

Bonakdar, Navid; Schilling, Achim; Lennert, Pablo; Spörrer, Marina; Gerum, Richard; Alonso, José L.; Goldmann, Wolfgang H.

doi:10.1002/cbin.10303

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…After 24 h, differentiation was induced by switching the medium to 3% horse serum and 1 µM insulin. Stretch was induced using a stepper motor-based uniaxial stretcher as described previously for 2D substrates 87 . To simulate the mechanical cues of early muscle development, C2C12 tissues were exposed to increased static stretch up to 20% over the course of 3 days starting 24 h after the original cell seeding.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Directionality of developing skeletal muscles is set by mechanical forces

et al. 2023

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Formation of oriented myofibrils is a key event in musculoskeletal development. However, the mechanisms that drive myocyte orientation and fusion to control muscle directionality in adults remain enigmatic. Here, we demonstrate that the developing skeleton instructs the directional outgrowth of skeletal muscle and other soft tissues during limb and facial morphogenesis in zebrafish and mouse. Time-lapse live imaging reveals that during early craniofacial development, myoblasts condense into round clusters corresponding to future muscle groups. These clusters undergo oriented stretch and alignment during embryonic growth. Genetic perturbation of cartilage patterning or size disrupts the directionality and number of myofibrils in vivo. Laser ablation of musculoskeletal attachment points reveals tension imposed by cartilage expansion on the forming myofibers. Application of continuous tension using artificial attachment points, or stretchable membrane substrates, is sufficient to drive polarization of myocyte populations in vitro. Overall, this work outlines a biomechanical guidance mechanism that is potentially useful for engineering functional skeletal muscle.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Directionality of developing skeletal muscles is set by mechanical forces

et al. 2023

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“…The influence of mechanical stress on cells is of interest for various scientific fields and can be studied on several levels, ranging e.g. from morphological changes such as cell orientation [5] , [6] and the role of cytoskeletal adaptation [7] , [8] to the recent identification of mechanosensory ion channels of the piezo family, which are candidates for the direct conversion of stress into chemical signals [9] .…”

Section: Hardware In Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

A low-cost uniaxial cell stretcher for six parallel wells

et al. 2021

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“…To incorporate stretch and strain forces, cells must be seeded on a 2D elastic membrane such as polydimethylsiloxane [ 87 ] that can then be cyclically stretched to simulate mechanical stresses such as cyclic stretch during breathing. Importantly, these mechanical stretch devices can be purchased commercially or made in-house: Flexcell-type devices [ 88 ], lung-on-chip [ 89 ] and ‘cell stretchers’ [ 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 ]. Additionally, stretch and strain are incorporated into 3D models of the lung through more complex mechanisms that frequently apply biaxial strain by incorporating clamps or embedded anchors within a 3D cell culture matrix.…”

Section: The Mechanical Nature Of Emphysema Limits the Study And Treatment Of The Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

How Do Mechanics Guide Fibroblast Activity? Complex Disruptions during Emphysema Shape Cellular Responses and Limit Research

et al. 2021

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The emphysema death toll has steadily risen over recent decades, causing the disease to become the third most common cause of death worldwide in 2019. Emphysema is currently incurable and could be due to a genetic condition (Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency) or exposure to pollutants/irritants, such as cigarette smoke or poorly ventilated cooking fires. Despite the growing burden of emphysema, the mechanisms behind emphysematous pathogenesis and progression are not fully understood by the scientific literature. A key aspect of emphysematous progression is the destruction of the lung parenchyma extracellular matrix (ECM), causing a drastic shift in the mechanical properties of the lung (known as mechanobiology). The mechanical properties of the lung such as the stiffness of the parenchyma (measured as the elastic modulus) and the stretch forces required for inhalation and exhalation are both reduced in emphysema. Fibroblasts function to maintain the structural and mechanical integrity of the lung parenchyma, yet, in the context of emphysema, these fibroblasts appear incapable of repairing the ECM, allowing emphysema to progress. This relationship between the disturbances in the mechanical cues experienced by an emphysematous lung and fibroblast behaviour is constantly overlooked and consequently understudied, thus warranting further research. Interestingly, the failure of current research models to integrate the altered mechanical environment of an emphysematous lung may be limiting our understanding of emphysematous pathogenesis and progression, potentially disrupting the development of novel treatments. This review will focus on the significance of emphysematous lung mechanobiology to fibroblast activity and current research limitations by examining: (1) the impact of mechanical cues on fibroblast activity and the cell cycle, (2) the potential role of mechanical cues in the diminished activity of emphysematous fibroblasts and, finally, (3) the limitations of current emphysematous lung research models and treatments as a result of the overlooked emphysematous mechanical environment.

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Measuring mechanical properties in cells: three easy methods for biologists

Cited by 8 publications

References 37 publications

Directionality of developing skeletal muscles is set by mechanical forces

Directionality of developing skeletal muscles is set by mechanical forces

A low-cost uniaxial cell stretcher for six parallel wells

How Do Mechanics Guide Fibroblast Activity? Complex Disruptions during Emphysema Shape Cellular Responses and Limit Research

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