Directional cell elongation through filopodia-steered lamellipodial extension on patterned silk fibroin films.
Micropatterned biomaterials have been used to direct cell alignment for specific tissue engineering applications. However, the understanding of how cells respond to guidance cues remains limited. Plasticity in protrusion formation has been proposed to enable cells to adapt their motility mode to microenvironment. In this study, the authors investigated the key role of protrusion response in cell guidance on patterned silk fibroin films. The results revealed that the ability to transform between filopodia and small lamellipodia played important roles in directional cell guidance. Filopodia did not show directional extension on patterned substrates prior to spreading, but they transduced topographical cues to the cell to trigger the formation of small lamellipodia along the direction of a microgrooved or parallel nanofiber pattern. The polar lamellipodia formation provided not only a path with directionality, but a driving force for directional cell elongation. Moreover, aligned nanofibers coating provided better mechanical support for the traction of filopodia and lamellipodia, promoting cell attachment, spreading, and migration. This study provides new insight into how cells respond to guidance cues and how filopodia and lamellipodia control cell contact guidance on micropatterned biomaterial surfaces.
National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren'ai Road, Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China.
Renchuan
R
You
National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren'ai Road, Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China.
Xiufang
X
Li
National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren'ai Road, Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China.
Zuwei
Z
Luo
National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren'ai Road, Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China.
Jing
J
Qu
National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, No. 199 Ren'ai Road, Industrial Park, Suzhou 215123, China.
Mingzhong
M
Li
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D048430:Cell Shape; D005349:Fibroins; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D057139:Nanofibers; D011554:Pseudopodia / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D047011:Silk; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
D047011:Silk; D005349:Fibroins