scholarly journals The Actin Cortex: A Bridge between Cell Shape and Function

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 571-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin J. Chalut ◽  
Ewa K. Paluch
Keyword(s):  
Cell Shape ◽  
Actin Cortex ◽  
And Function

Correlation of Cell Shape and Function in the Visual Cortex of the Cat

Nature ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 241 (5389) ◽  
pp. 403-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. VAN ESSEN ◽  
J. KELLY
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
And Function

On the 3D Correlation between Myofibroblast Shape and Contraction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Khang ◽  
Emma Lejeune ◽  
Ali Abbaspour ◽  
Daniel Howsmon ◽  
Michael Sacks
Keyword(s):  
Cell Shape ◽  
Interstitial Cell ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Stress Fiber ◽  
Poly Ethylene Glycol ◽  
Critical Feature ◽  
Peg Hydrogels ◽  
Poly Ethylene ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Cell shape is known to correlate closely with stress-fiber geometry and function, and is thus a critical feature of cell biophysical state. However, the relationship between myofibroblast shape and contraction is complex, even as well in regards to steady-state contractile level (basal tonus). At present, the relationship between myofibroblast shape and basal tonus in 3D is poorly understood. Herein, we utilize the aortic valve interstitial cell (AVICs) as a representative myofibroblast to investigate the relationship between basal tonus and overall cell shape. AVICs were embedded within 3D poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels containing degradable peptide crosslinkers, adhesive peptide sequences, and sub-micron fluorescent micro-spheres to track the local displacement field. We then developed a methodology to evaluate the correlation between overall AVIC shape and basal tonus induced contraction. We computed a volume averaged stretch tensor <U> for the volume occupied by the AVIC, which had three distinct eigenvalues (1.08, 0.99, and 0.89), suggesting that AVIC shape is a result of anisotropic contraction. Furthermore, the direction of maximum contraction correlated closely with the longest axis of a bounding ellipsoid enclosing the AVIC. As gel--imbedded AVIC are known to be in a stable state by three days of incubation used herein, this finding suggests that the overall quiescent AVIC shape is driven by the underlying stress-fiber directional structure and possibly contraction level.

Optimizing micropattern geometries for cell shape and migration with genetic algorithms

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 741-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp J. Albert ◽  
Ulrich S. Schwarz
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Genetic Algorithms ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Control Cell ◽  
Standard Tool ◽  
And Migration ◽  
And Function

Adhesive micropatterns have become a standard tool to control cell shape and function in cell culture.

scholarly journals Cytoskeleton Dynamics in Peripheral T Cell Lymphomas: An Intricate Network Sustaining Lymphomagenesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Fragliasso ◽  
Annalisa Tameni ◽  
Giorgio Inghirami ◽  
Valentina Mularoni ◽  
Alessia Ciarrocchi
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Aurora Kinase ◽  
T Cell Lymphomas ◽  
Molecular Landscape ◽  
And Function ◽  
Cytoskeleton Dynamics ◽  
Shape Changes ◽  
Peripheral T Cell Lymphomas

Defects in cytoskeleton functions support tumorigenesis fostering an aberrant proliferation and promoting inappropriate migratory and invasive features. The link between cytoskeleton and tumor features has been extensively investigated in solid tumors. However, the emerging genetic and molecular landscape of peripheral T cell lymphomas (PTCL) has unveiled several alterations targeting structure and function of the cytoskeleton, highlighting its role in cell shape changes and the aberrant cell division of malignant T cells. In this review, we summarize the most recent evidence about the role of cytoskeleton in PTCLs development and progression. We also discuss how aberrant signaling pathways, like JAK/STAT3, NPM-ALK, RhoGTPase, and Aurora Kinase, can contribute to lymphomagenesis by modifying the structure and the signaling properties of cytoskeleton.

scholarly journals Tendon-derived biomimetic surface topographies induce phenotypic maintenance of tenocytes in vitro

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysegul Dede Eren ◽  
Aliaksei Vasilevich ◽  
E. Deniz Eren ◽  
Phanikrishna Sudarsanam ◽  
Urandelger Tuvshindorj ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Flat Surface ◽  
Flat Surfaces ◽  
Tissue Culture Polystyrene ◽  
Surface Topographies ◽  
And Function ◽  
Shape Changes

AbstractThe tenocyte niche contains biochemical and biophysical signals that are needed for tendon homeostasis. The tenocyte phenotype is correlated with cell shape in vivo and in vitro, and shape-modifying cues are needed for tenocyte phenotypical maintenance. Indeed, cell shape changes from elongated to spread when cultured on a flat surface, and rat tenocytes lose the expression of phenotypical markers throughout five passages. We hypothesized that tendon gene expression can be preserved by culturing cells in the native tendon shape. To this end, we reproduced the tendon topographical landscape into tissue culture polystyrene, using imprinting technology. We confirmed that the imprints forced the cells into a more elongated shape, which correlated with the level of Scleraxis expression. When we cultured the tenocytes for seven days on flat surfaces and tendon imprints, we observed a decline in tenogenic marker expression on flat but not on imprints. This research demonstrates that native tendon topography is an important factor contributing to the tenocyte phenotype. Tendon imprints therefore provide a powerful platform to explore the effect of instructive cues originating from native tendon topography on guiding cell shape, phenotype and function of tendon-related cells.

scholarly journals Loss of Gα12/13 exacerbates apical area dependence of actomyosin contractility

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (22) ◽  
pp. 3526-3536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shicong Xie ◽  
Frank M. Mason ◽  
Adam C. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Cell Shape ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Timely Initiation ◽  
Apical Constriction ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Actin Cortex ◽  
Ventral Furrow ◽  
Delayed Initiation ◽  
Apical Area

During development, coordinated cell shape changes alter tissue shape. In the Drosophila ventral furrow and other epithelia, apical constriction of hundreds of epithelial cells folds the tissue. Genes in the Gα12/13 pathway coordinate collective apical constriction, but the mechanism of coordination is poorly understood. Coupling live-cell imaging with a computational approach to identify contractile events, we discovered that differences in constriction behavior are biased by initial cell shape. Disrupting Gα12/13 exacerbates this relationship. Larger apical area is associated with delayed initiation of contractile pulses, lower apical E-cadherin and F-actin levels, and aberrantly mobile Rho-kinase structures. Our results suggest that loss of Gα12/13 disrupts apical actin cortex organization and pulse initiation in a size-dependent manner. We propose that Gα12/13 robustly organizes the apical cortex despite variation in apical area to ensure the timely initiation of contractile pulses in a tissue with heterogeneity in starting cell shape.

Mathematical modelling of the viable epidermis: impact of cell shape and vertical arrangement

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1046-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Wittum ◽  
Arne Naegel ◽  
Michael Heisig ◽  
Gabriel Wittum
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modelling ◽  
Cell Shape ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Stratum Granulosum ◽  
Viable Epidermis ◽  
Membrane Permeabilities ◽  
And Function ◽  
First Time ◽  
In Silico Methods

In-silico methods are valuable tools for understanding the barrier function of the skin. The key benefit is that mathematical modelling allows the interplay between cell shape and function to be elucidated. This study focuses on the viable (living) epidermis. For this region, previous works suggested a diffusion model and an approximation of the cells by hexagonal prisms. The work at hand extends this in three ways. First, the extracellular space is treated with full spatial resolution. This induces a decrease of permeability by about 10%. Second, cells of tetrakaidecahedral shape are considered, in addition to the original hexagonal prisms. For both cell types, the resulting membrane permeabilities are compared. Third, for the first time, the influence of cell stacking in the vertical direction is considered. This is particularly important for the stratum granulosum, where tight junctions are present.

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