@article{709a7dc9239643bfae1b0b56ec114635,
title = "An Easy-to-Fabricate Cell Stretcher Reveals Density-Dependent Mechanical Regulation of Collective Cell Movements in Epithelia",
abstract = "Introduction: Mechanical forces regulate many facets of cell and tissue biology. Studying the effects of forces on cells requires real-time observations of single- and multi-cell dynamics in tissue models during controlled external mechanical input. Many of the existing devices used to conduct these studies are costly and complicated to fabricate, which reduces the availability of these devices to many laboratories. Methods: We show how to fabricate a simple, low-cost, uniaxial stretching device, with readily available materials and instruments that is compatible with high-resolution time-lapse microscopy of adherent cell monolayers. In addition, we show how to construct a pressure controller that induces a repeatable degree of stretch in monolayers, as well as a custom MATLAB code to quantify individual cell strains. Results: As an application note using this device, we show that uniaxial stretch slows down cellular movements in a mammalian epithelial monolayer in a cell density-dependent manner. We demonstrate that the effect on cell movement involves the relocalization of myosin downstream of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK). Conclusions: This mechanical device provides a platform for broader involvement of engineers and biologists in this important area of cell and tissue biology. We used this device to demonstrate the mechanical regulation of collective cell movements in epithelia.",
keywords = "Cell strain, Cellular biomechanics, Epithelial monolayer, Live-cell imaging, Mechanobiology",
author = "Hart, {Kevin C.} and Sim, {Joo Yong} and Hopcroft, {Matthew A.} and Cohen, {Daniel J.} and Jiongyi Tan and Nelson, {W. James} and Pruitt, {Beth L.}",
note = "Funding Information: We thank So Yamada (University of California, Davis) for the MDCK GFP-myosin IIA cells. This work was supported by a NIH Training Grant T32GM007276 (to K.C.H.), a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships Program (to J.T.), a Life Science Research Foundation Fellowship (Howard Hughes Medical Institute sponsorship) (to D.J.C.), NSF grants (CMMI 1662431 and EFRI MIKS 1136790 to W.J.N. and B.L.P.), a Stanford Bio-X research fellowship (to K.C.H., J.T., and J.Y.S.), a Stanford Bio-X grant (to W.J.N. and B.L.P.), the Ilju Foundation (J.Y.S.), and NIH Grant R35GM118064 (to W.J.N.). Kevin C. Hart, Joo Yong Sim, Daniel J. Cohen, Jiongyi Tan, W. James Nelson, and Beth L. Pruitt declare that they have no conflicts of interest. Matthew A. Hopcroft is an employee of Red Dog Research. No human studies were carried out by the authors for this article. No animal studies were carried out by the authors for this article. Funding Information: We thank So Yamada (University of California, Davis) for the MDCK GFP-myosin IIA cells. This work was supported by a NIH Training Grant T32GM007276 (to K.C.H.), a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships Program (to J.T.), a Life Science Research Foundation Fellowship (Howard Hughes Medical Institute sponsorship) (to D.J.C.), NSF grants (CMMI 1662431 and EFRI MIKS 1136790 to W.J.N. and B.L.P.), a Stanford Bio-X research fellowship (to K.C.H., J.T., and J.Y.S.), a Stanford Bio-X grant (to W.J.N. and B.L.P.), the Ilju Foundation (J.Y.S.), and NIH Grant R35GM118064 (to W.J.N.). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s).",
year = "2021",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1007/s12195-021-00689-6",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "14",
pages = "569--581",
journal = "Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering",
issn = "1865-5025",
publisher = "Springer New York",
number = "6",
}