TY - JOUR
T1 - Cell contraction induces long-ranged stress stiffening in the extracellular matrix
AU - Han, Yu Long
AU - Ronceray, Pierre
AU - Xu, Guoqiang
AU - Malandrino, Andrea
AU - Kamm, Roger D.
AU - Lenz, Martin
AU - Broedersz, Chase P.
AU - Guo, Ming
PY - 2018/4/17
Y1 - 2018/4/17
N2 - Animal cells in tissues are supported by biopolymer matrices, which typically exhibit highly nonlinear mechanical properties. While the linear elasticity of the matrix can significantly impact cell mechanics and functionality, it remains largely unknown how cells, in turn, affect the nonlinear mechanics of their surrounding matrix. Here, we show that living contractile cells are able to generate a massive stiffness gradient in three distinct 3D extracellular matrix model systems: collagen, fibrin, and Matrigel. We decipher this remarkable behavior by introducing nonlinear stress inference microscopy (NSIM), a technique to infer stress fields in a 3D matrix from nonlinear microrheology measurements with optical tweezers. Using NSIM and simulations, we reveal large long-ranged cell-generated stresses capable of buckling filaments in the matrix. These stresses give rise to the large spatial extent of the observed cell-induced matrix stiffness gradient, which can provide a mechanism for mechanical communication between cells.
AB - Animal cells in tissues are supported by biopolymer matrices, which typically exhibit highly nonlinear mechanical properties. While the linear elasticity of the matrix can significantly impact cell mechanics and functionality, it remains largely unknown how cells, in turn, affect the nonlinear mechanics of their surrounding matrix. Here, we show that living contractile cells are able to generate a massive stiffness gradient in three distinct 3D extracellular matrix model systems: collagen, fibrin, and Matrigel. We decipher this remarkable behavior by introducing nonlinear stress inference microscopy (NSIM), a technique to infer stress fields in a 3D matrix from nonlinear microrheology measurements with optical tweezers. Using NSIM and simulations, we reveal large long-ranged cell-generated stresses capable of buckling filaments in the matrix. These stresses give rise to the large spatial extent of the observed cell-induced matrix stiffness gradient, which can provide a mechanism for mechanical communication between cells.
KW - Biopolymer networks
KW - Cell mechanics
KW - Cell-matrix interactions
KW - Microrheology
KW - Nonlinear elasticity
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/6dfd9c7e-6d62-37e0-ba4f-4b252bd1fcb1/
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.1722619115
DO - 10.1073/pnas.1722619115
M3 - Article
C2 - 29618614
VL - 115
SP - 4075
EP - 4080
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 16
ER -