title: Computational model combined with in vitro experiments to analyse mechanotransduction during mesenchymal stem cell adhesion.
abstract: The shape that stem cells reach at the end of adhesion process influences their differentiation. Rearrangement of cytoskeleton and modification of intracellular tension may activate mechanotransduction pathways controlling cell commitment. In the present study, the mechanical signals involved in cell adhesion were computed in in vitro stem cells of different shapes using a single cell model, the so-called Cytoskeleton Divided Medium (CDM) model. In the CDM model, the filamentous cytoskeleton and nucleoskeleton networks were represented as a mechanical system of multiple tensile and compressive interactions between the nodes of a divided medium. The results showed that intracellular tonus, focal adhesion forces as well as nuclear deformation increased with cell spreading. The cell model was also implemented to simulate the adhesion process of a cell that spreads on protein-coated substrate by emitting filopodia and creating new distant focal adhesion points. As a result, the cell model predicted cytoskeleton reorganisation and reinforcement during cell spreading. The present model quantitatively computed the evolution of certain elements of mechanotransduction and may be a powerful tool for understanding cell mechanobiology and designing biomaterials with specific surface properties to control cell adhesion and differentiation.
authors: Institute of Movement Sciences, Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS UMR 7287, F-13288 Marseille, France.
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Milan
authors: Sandrine
authors: S
authors: Lavenus
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Pilet
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Louarn
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Wendling
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Heymann
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Layrolle
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Chabrand
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D053144:Cell Nucleus Shape; D048430:Cell Shape; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology; D022001:Focal Adhesions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D059010:Single-Cell Analysis