Tissue stretch induces nuclear remodeling in connective tissue fibroblasts.
Studies in cultured cells have shown that nuclear shape is an important factor influencing nuclear function, and that mechanical forces applied to the cell can directly affect nuclear shape. In a previous study, we demonstrated that stretching of whole mouse subcutaneous tissue causes dynamic cytoskeletal remodeling with perinuclear redistribution of alpha-actin in fibroblasts within the tissue. We have further shown that the nuclei of these fibroblasts have deep invaginations containing alpha-actin. In the current study, we hypothesized that tissue stretch would cause nuclear remodeling with a reduced amount of nuclear invagination, measurable as a change in nuclear concavity. Subcutaneous areolar connective tissue samples were excised from 28 mice and randomized to either tissue stretch or no stretch for 30 min, then examined with histochemistry and confocal microscopy. In stretched tissue (vs. non-stretched), fibroblast nuclei had a larger cross-sectional area (P < 0.001), smaller thickness (P < 0.03) in the plane of the tissue, and smaller relative concavity (P < 0.005) indicating an increase in nuclear convexity. The stretch-induced loss of invaginations may have important influences on gene expression, RNA trafficking and/or cell differentiation.
Department of Neurology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 89 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA. helene.langevin@uvm.edu
Helene M
HM
Langevin
Kirsten N
KN
Storch
Robert R
RR
Snapp
Nicole A
NA
Bouffard
Gary J
GJ
Badger
Alan K
AK
Howe
Douglas J
DJ
Taatjes
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D012313:RNA