title: Mechanical regulation of human vocal fold stellate cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is generally accepted that tensile and compressive strains have direct effects on cell morphology and structure, including changes in cytoskeletal structure and organization. Cytoskeletons play the role of mechanoreceptor of the cells. Vocal fold stellate cells (VFSCs) in the human maculae flavae (MFe) are inferred to be involved in the metabolism of extracellular matrices essential for the viscoelasticity of the vocal fold mucosa. Our previous studies have supported the hypothesis that the tension caused by phonation (vocal fold vibration) regulates the behavior of the VFSCs. The microstructure of the intermediate filaments and the expression of their proteins were investigated in VFSCs in the MFe, which had remained unphonated since birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three adult vocal fold mucosae that had remained unphonated since birth were investigated by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intermediate filaments of the VFSCs were fewer in number. The expression of their characteristic proteins (vimentin, desmin, and glial fibrillary acidic protein) was also reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vocal fold vibration seems to affect VFSC morphology and structure, such as cytoskeletal structure and organization. This supports the hypothesis that vocal fold vibration regulates VFSC behavior in the human MFe. In addition to chemical factors, mechanical factors also appear to modulate VFSC behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan kimisato@oct-net.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Kiminori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Shun-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chitose
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Umeno
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001044:Aphonia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins
keywords: cytoskeleton; human vocal fold; larynx; macula flava; mechanotransduction; unphonated vocal fold; vocal fold stellate cell