Cellular Mechanics and Interactions

Mechanical state of pre-tumoral epithelia dictates subsequent tumour aggressiveness

The paper shows that increased cell contractility in pre-tumoral tissues drives tumour aggressiveness through dysplasia and junction weakening.

Substrate Curvature Influences Cytoskeletal Rearrangement and Modulates Macrophage Phenotype

This study shows that substrate curvature affects macrophage cytoskeletal dynamics and immunophenotype, offering a localized strategy to modulate macrophage behavior.

Mechanical compressive forces increase PI3K output signaling in breast and pancreatic cancer cells

The paper shows that mechanical compression increases PI3K signaling in breast and pancreatic cancer cells, enhancing resistance to PI3K inhibitors and affecting autophagy.

CD44/Integrin β1 association drives fast motility on HA substrates

This study shows that CD44/Integrin β1 association enables faster cell motility on HA substrates by forming smaller, weaker focal adhesions.

Stored Elastic Bending Tension as a Mediator of Embryonic Body Folding

The paper investigates the role of elastic bending tensions in embryonic body folding, showing that ECM integrity and differential tension between tissue layers drive the process.

Proliferation-driven mechanical feedback regulates cell dynamics in growing tissues

This study uses agent-based simulations to show that mechanical feedback from cell division and proliferation influences cell dynamics in growing tissues, with distinct diffusion behaviors depending on feedback strength and growth rate.

Histone acetylation alters nuclear morphology and architecture of human mesenchymal stem cells in rigidity dependent manner

This study shows that histone acetylation via HDACi alters nuclear morphology in hMSCs depending on substrate rigidity, with effects on soft substrates being reversible by HDACi treatment.

Intraluminal pressure triggers a rapid and persistent reinforcement of endothelial barriers

The paper shows that intraluminal pressure rapidly strengthens endothelial barriers through actin reorganization and paracellular gap closure, lasting up to 30 minutes.

Under pressure: integrated endothelial cell response to hydrostatic and shear stresses

This study investigates how hydrostatic pressure modulates endothelial cell responses to flow, showing pressure alters shear-induced signaling and transcriptional changes in human and mouse ECs.

A microfluidic rheometer for tumor mechanics and invasion studies

This paper introduces a microfluidic rheometer to measure tumor spheroid mechanics and invasiveness in a physiologically relevant setting, finding that tumor stiffness and viscoelastic properties correlate with invasiveness.

An engineered platform to study the influence of extracellular matrix nanotopography on cell ultrastructure

This paper develops a platform to study how ECM nanotopography affects cell ultrastructure using cryo-ET and electrospun fibers.

Characterization of cellular wound resistance in the giant ciliate Stentor coeruleus

This study investigates how Stentor coeruleus resists mechanical stress during transit through a microfluidic constriction, identifying cytoskeletal and cytoplasmic factors involved in wound resistance.

High-throughput Single Cell Motility Analysis using Nanowell-in-Microwells

This paper introduces a high-throughput single-cell motility assay using nanowell-in-microwell plates to analyze migration behavior and identify distinct motility phenotypes.

Stimulus-induced mechanical compaction of biological polymer networks via smart hydrogel microstructures

This paper introduces a lab-on-chip system that applies spatially and temporally controlled mechanical perturbations to biological polymer networks using thermoresponsive and light-responsive hydrogel microstructures.

A new mechanochemical vertex model with Ca2+ signalling, for apical constriction in neural tube closure

The paper develops two new mechanochemical vertex models of apical constriction during neural tube closure, incorporating Ca2+ signalling and mechanical interactions to better align with experimental observations.

On-chip non-contact mechanical cell stimulation - quantification of SKOV-3 alignment to suspended microstructures

This study shows SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells align with suspended microstructures without direct contact, suggesting a new mechanotactic behavior not observed in other cell types.

The role of local and long-range stresses in cephalic furrow formation in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo

This study investigates how local and long-range mechanical stresses contribute to cephalic furrow formation in Drosophila embryos using computational models and experimental analysis.

The Arp2/3 complex maintains genome integrity and survival of epidermal Langerhans cells

This study shows that the Arp2/3 complex is essential for genome integrity and survival of epidermal Langerhans cells, with Arpc4 deficiency leading to DNA damage and premature aging-like decline.

Epithelium Stratifies via Nucleation and Growth Induced by Foam-Geometric Instability

This study identifies a mechanism for epithelial stratification analogous to a phase transition, driven by foam-geometric instability and nucleation-growth processes.

Competing mechanisms for the buckling of an epithelial monolayer identified using multicellular simulation

The paper uses a multicellular simulation model to identify two competing buckling mechanisms in epithelial monolayers: stromal deformation and stromal separation.

WASp activity in macrophages prevents mechano-induced inflammation by protecting the nuclear envelope

This study shows that WASp in macrophages prevents inflammation by maintaining nuclear integrity under mechanical stress, linking mechano-sensing to inflammatory responses.

Covalent on-cell conjugation of biomaterials through oxidative phenolic coupling regulates stem cell fate via intracellular biophysical programming

This study uses covalent on-cell oxidative phenolic coupling to tether hydrogels to stem cells, showing it regulates cell fate through biophysical changes without relying on YAP/TAZ signaling.

Cofilin promotes actin turnover and flexibility to drive coordinated cell movements in vivo

This study shows that Cofilin promotes F-actin turnover at wound edges in Drosophila embryos, maintaining a flexible actin network to enable rapid wound closure.

Model supports asymmetric regulation across the intercellular junction for collective cell polarization

The paper develops a model showing asymmetric regulation across cell-cell junctions is necessary for coordinated collective cell polarization.

Vinculin Y822 phosphorylation regulates cardiomyocyte adhesion dynamics and adherens junction maturation in the heart

This study shows that vinculin Y822 phosphorylation regulates cardiomyocyte adhesion dynamics and adherens junction maturation, with loss of function leading to cardiac dysfunction later in life.

Optogenetic control of mechanotransduction based on light-induced homodimerization of talin

This paper introduces a single-construct optogenetic tool to control talin dimerization, enabling precise manipulation of mechanotransduction in integrin-based adhesions.

Mechanotransduction and inflammation: an updated comprehensive representation

The paper provides a unified pathway representation of mechanotransduction and inflammation using SBML and network biology approaches, highlighting RAC1 as a potential therapeutic target.

PIEZO1-Mediated Mechanotransduction Regulates Collagen Synthesis on Nanostructured 2D and 3D Models of Fibrosis

This study shows PIEZO1 regulates collagen synthesis in hASCs based on substrate architecture, with YAP/TAZ translocation and collagen production being independent outcomes of PIEZO1 activation.

Epithelial Folding Irreversibility is Controlled by Elastoplastic Transition via Mechanosensitive Actin Bracket Formation

The paper identifies a mechanism by which epithelial folding irreversibility is controlled through an elastoplastic transition mediated by mechanosensitive actin bracket formation.

FAK and p130Cas modulate stiffness-mediated early transcription and cellular metabolism

This study shows that FAK and p130Cas modulate early transcription and metabolism in response to substrate stiffness using RNA sequencing in mouse cells.