Microenvironment and cell mechanics

[摘要] Microenvironment contains biophysical and biochemical elements to maintain survival, growth, proliferation,and differentiation of cells. Any change can lead to cell response to the mechanical forces, which can be described byelasticity. It is an indicator of a cell’s state since it plays an important role in many cellular processes. In many cases,cell elasticity is measured by using discontinuous manner, which may not allow elucidating real-time activity ofindividual live cells in physiological condition or cell response against microenvironmental changes. I argue thatmeasuring cell elasticity using continuously repetitive nanoindentation technique is important that should beconsidered. As an example, I discuss mechanics of human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells in various conditions. Inresting cells, there is an activity of the cytoskeleton whose oscillation amplitude is strongly affected by the intracellularcalcium, and the collective activity of myosin motor proteins induces elasticity oscillation. Experimental results alsoreveal that actin cytoskeleton and cell membrane determine cell mechanics.

[学科分类] 仪器

[关键词] Microenvironment;Cell mechanics;Nanoindentation