Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T14:35:41.709Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Use of Flexible Materials with a Novel Pressure Driven Equibiaxial Cell Stretching Device for Mechanical Stimulation of Single Mammalian Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

James D. Kubicek
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, U.S.A.
Stephanie Brelsford
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, U.S.A.
Philip R. LeDuc
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanical Engineering Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Mechanical stimulation of single cells has been shown to affect cellular behavior from the molecular scale to ultimate cell fate including apoptosis and proliferation. In this, the ability to control the spatiotemporal application of force on cells through their extracellular matrix connections is critical to understand the cellular response of mechanotransduction. Here, we develop and utilize a novel pressure-driven equibiaxial cell stretching device (PECS) combined with an elastomeric material to control specifically the mechanical stimulation on single cells. Cells were cultured on silicone membranes coated with molecular matrices and then a uniform pressure was introduced to the opposite surface of the membrane to stretch single cells equibiaxially. This allowed us to apply mechanical deformation to investigate the complex nature of cell shape and structure. These results will enhance our knowledge of cellular and molecular function as well as provide insights into fields including biomechanics, tissue engineering, and drug discovery.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. LeDuc, P, Haber, C, Bao, G, Wirtz, D. Dynamics of individual flexible polymers in a shear flow. Nature 1999; 399: 564566.Google Scholar
2. Wang, N, JP, Butler, DE, Ingber. Mechanotransduction across the cell surface and through the cytoskeleton. Science 1993; 260: 11241127.Google Scholar
3. Ferrer, I, Blanco, R, Carmona, M, Puig, B, Barrachina, M, Gomez, C, Ambrosio, S. Active, phosphorylation-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK), stressactivated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), and p38 kinase expression in Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. J Neural Transm 2001; 108: 13831396.Google Scholar
4. Li, C, Hu, Y, Mayr, M, Xu, Q. Cyclic strain stress-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase 1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells is regulated by Ras/Rac-MAPK pathways. J Biol Chem 1999; 274: 2527325280.Google Scholar
5. Shrode, LD, Rubie, EA, JR, Woodgett, Grinstein, S. Cytosolic alkalinization increases stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) activity and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity by a calcium-independent mechanism. J Biol Chem 1997; 272: 1365313659.Google Scholar
6. Garcia-Cardena, G, JI, Comander, BR, Blackman, KR, Anderson, MA, Gimbrone. Mechanosensitive endothelial gene expression profiles: scripts for the role of hemodynamics in atherogenesis? Ann N Y Acad Sci 2001; 947: 16.Google Scholar
7. JN, Topper, MA, Gimbrone Jr, Blood flow and vascular gene expression: fluid shear stress as a modulator of endothelial phenotype. Mol Med Today 1999; 5: 4046.Google Scholar
8. Resnick, N, Yahav, H, LM, Khachigian, Collins, T, KR, Anderson, FC, Dewey, MA, Gimbrone Jr, Endothelial gene regulation by laminar shear stress. Adv Exp Med Biol 1997; 430: 155164.Google Scholar
9. Morimoto, N, RM, Raphael, Nygren, A, WE, Brownell. Excess plasma membrane and effects of ionic amphipaths on mechanics of outer hair cell lateral wall. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2002; 282: C10761086.Google Scholar
10. KG, Engstrom, HJ, Meiselman. Combined use of micropipette aspiration and perifusion for studying red blood cell volume regulation. Cytometry 1997; 27: 345352.Google Scholar
11. JH, Wang, Goldschmidt-Clermont, P, Wille, J, FC, Yin. Specificity of endothelial cell reorientation in response to cyclic mechanical stretching. J Biomech 2001; 34: 15631572.Google Scholar
12. RJ, Dekker, van Soest, S, RD, Fontijn, Salamanca, S, PG, de Groot, VanBavel, E, Pannekoek, H, AJ, Horrevoets. Prolonged fluid shear stress induces a distinct set of endothelial cell genes, most specifically lung Kruppel-like factor (KLF2). Blood 2002; 100: 16891698.Google Scholar
13. AM, Malek, Izumo, S. Mechanism of endothelial cell shape change and cytoskeletal remodeling in response to fluid shear stress. J Cell Sci 1996; 109 ( Pt 4): 713726.Google Scholar
14. HJ, Schnittler, SW, Schneider, Raifer, H, Luo, F, Dieterich, P, Just, I, Aktories, K. Role of actin filaments in endothelial cell-cell adhesion and membrane stability under fluid shear stress. Pflugers Arch 2001; 442: 675687.Google Scholar
15. Kano, Y, Katoh, K, Fujiwara, K. Lateral zone of cell-cell adhesion as the major fluid shear stress-related signal transduction site. Circ Res 2000; 86: 425433.Google Scholar
16. GA, Truskey, JS, Pirone. The effect of fluid shear stress upon cell adhesion to fibronectintreated surfaces. J Biomed Mater Res 1990; 24: 13331353.Google Scholar
17. TG, van Kooten, JM, Schakenraad, HC, van der Mei, Dekker, A, CJ, Kirkpatrick, HJ, Busscher. Fluid shear induced endothelial cell detachment from glass--influence of adhesion time and shear stress. Med Eng Phys 1994; 16: 506512.Google Scholar
18. KD, Costa, WJ, Hucker, FC, Yin. Buckling of actin stress fibers: a new wrinkle in the cytoskeletal tapestry. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 2002; 52: 266274.Google Scholar