title: Matrix mechanics and fluid shear stress control stem cells fate in three dimensional microenvironment.
abstract: Stem cells have the ability to self-renew and to differentiate into multiple mature cell types during early life and growth. Stem cells adhesion, proliferation, migration and differentiation are affected by biochemical, mechanical and physical surface properties of the surrounding matrix in which stem cells reside and stem cells can sensitively feel and respond to the microenvironment of this matrix. More and more researches have proven that three dimensional (3D) culture can reduce the gap between cell culture and physiological environment where cells always live in vivo. This review summarized recent findings on the studies of matrix mechanics that control stem cells (primarily mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)) fate in 3D environment, including matrix stiffness and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. Considering the exchange of oxygen and nutrients in 3D culture, the effect of fluid shear stress (FSS) on fate decision of stem cells was also discussed in detail. Further, the difference of MSCs response to matrix stiffness between two dimensional (2D) and 3D conditions was compared. Finally, the mechanism of mechanotransduction of stem cells activated by matrix mechanics and FSS in 3D culture was briefly pointed out.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Guobao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yonggang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chongwen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xiaomei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhiling
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004548:Elasticity; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological