Modeling of the Primary Acts of the Interaction between a Cell and an External Mechanical Field

Abstract

The mechanism of interaction between a cell and an external mechanical field is still poorly understood, and the accumulated diverse experimental data are often scattered. Therefore, the aim of this work was to systematize the experimental data in a mathematical model of the interaction between a cell and an external mechanical field based on standard kinetic equations and Fick's diffusion equation. Assuming that the cortical cytoskeleton proteins play a key role in cell mechanosensitivity, we compared the results of mathematical modeling and experimental data concerning the content of cytoskeletal proteins at the early stages of a mechanical field change. In addition, the proposed mathematical model suggests the dynamics of changes of a key transcription factor, which is necessary for the expression of certain genes encoding cytoskeletal proteins.

Single Cell in a Gravity Field

“…We have measured the stiffness of various cells and, based on them, proposed a mathematical model and calculated the magnitude of the deformation when the force of gravity changes by 1 g (for example, from 1 g to 0 g, or in the opposite direction) [ 113 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 118 , 119 ]. The results of mathematical modeling and comparison with experimental data indicate that such deformation energy is sufficient for dissociation, for example, from actin filaments of actin-binding proteins.…”