title: The plasma membrane plays a central role in cells response to mechanical stress.
abstract: The mechanisms by which lymphocytes recognize and interpret mechanical stimuli and translate these into the triggering of select signaling cascades that are critical for lymphocyte function are still not fully understood. In this work, we investigated the association of mechanical stress (MS)-induced changes in membrane physical properties with changes in cytoskeleton dynamics and cell signaling. In Jurkat T cells, MS was associated with the immediate and transient depolymerization of both beta-tubulin and F-actin. The fluidity of the plasma membrane measured in the hydrophobic region of the bilayer, increased 0.5 min post-MS, recovering the initial value in the following 2 min. This effect was accompanied by the rearrangement of lipids in the lateral phase of the plasma membrane, transient lipid rafts' alteration, and membrane hyperpolarization. The consequent increase in cellular [Ca2+] triggered the activation of the transcription factors NFAT, AP-1, and NF-kappaB. Results indicate that the cytoplasmic membrane, through changes in membrane physical properties, senses MS, and transduces an initial physical stimulus into microtubules rearrangements, Ca2+ mobilization, and the subsequent changes in cell signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, IIMHNO (UBA) and IQUIFIB (UBA-CONICET), School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires, Junín 956 (C1113AAD), Buenos Aires, Argentina. verstraeten@ffyb.uba.ar
authors.forename: Sandra V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: Gerardo G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: Patricia I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Oteiza
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000502:physiology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014404:Tubulin; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D002118:Calcium