Cellular dynamics of bovine aortic smooth muscle cells measured using MEMS force sensors. (12th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsukagoshi, Takuya; Nguyen, Thanh-Vinh; Shoji, Kayoko Hirayama; Takahashi, Hidetoshi; Matsumoto, Kiyoshi; Shimoyama, Isao
• Is Part Of: Journal of physics. Volume 51:Number 14(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-03-12
• Subjects: piezoresistive cantilever -- cellular dynamics -- focal adhesion; Physics -- Periodicals; 530
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aab146
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3727

Abstract

Abstract: Adhesive cells perceive the mechanical properties of the substrates to which they adhere, adjusting their cellular mechanical forces according to their biological characteristics. This mechanical interaction subsequently affects the growth, locomotion, and differentiation of the cell. However, little is known about the detailed mechanism that underlies this interaction between adherent cells and substrates because dynamically measuring mechanical phenomena is difficult. Here, we utilize microelectromechamical systems force sensors that can measure cellular traction forces with high temporal resolution (~2.5 µ s) over long periods (~3 h). We found that the cellular dynamics reflected physical phenomena with time scales from milliseconds to hours, which contradicts the idea that cellular motion is slow. A single focal adhesion (FA) generates an average force of 7 nN, which disappears in ms via the action of trypsin-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The force-changing rate obtained from our measurements suggests that the time required for an FA to decompose was nearly proportional to the force acting on the FA.