Responses of fibroblasts to anchorage of dorsal extracellular matrix receptors
Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: Fibroblasts in 2D cultures differ dramatically in behavior from those in the 3D environment of a multicellular organism. However, the basis of this disparity is unknown. A key difference is the spatial arrangement of anchored extracellular matrix (ECM) receptors to the ventral surface in 2D cultures and throughout the entire surface in 3D cultures. Therefore, we asked whether changing the topography of ECM receptor anchorage alone could invoke a morphological response. By using polyacrylamide-based substrates to present anchored fibronectin or collagen on dorsal cell surfaces, we found that well spread fibroblasts in 2D cultures quickly changed into a bipolar or stellate morphology similar to fibroblasts in vivo. Cells in this environment lacked lamellipodia and large actin bundles and formed small focal adhesions only near focused sites of protrusion. These responses depend on substrate rigidity, calcium ion, and, likely, the calcium-dependent protease calpain. We suggest that fibroblasts respond to both spatial distribution and mechanical input of anchored ECM receptors. Changes in cell shape may in turn affect diverse cellular activities, including gene expression, growth, and differentiation, as shown in numerous previous studies.
Authors: Karen A. Beningo, Micah Dembo, Yu-li Wang
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: Dynamics of Actin in Normal and Transformed Cells, Dynamics of Actin in Normal and Transformed Cells, EFFECTS OF CHARITY ON THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION O F ANIMAL CELLS, THE BIOPHYSICS OF CELL-SUBSTRATUM TRACTION STRESS, Cell Biology of Presenilin 1 and Associated Proteins, G849541421, G9000241905
OpenAlex ID: W2081992432