Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Cell contraction and proliferation, matrix secretion and external mechanical forces induce compression during embryogenesis and tumor growth, which in turn regulate cell proliferation, metabolism or differentiation. How compression affects tissue contractility, a hallmark of tissue function, is however unknown. Here we apply osmotic compression to microtissues of either mouse colon adenocarcinoma CT26 cells, mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, or human primary colon cancer-associated fibroblasts. Microtissues are anchored to flexible pillars that serve as force transducers. We observe that low-amplitude osmotic compression induces a rapid relaxation of tissue contractility, primed by the deformation of the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, we show that this compression-induced relaxation is independent of the cell type, proportional to the initial tissue contractility, and depends on RhoA-mediated myosin activity. Together, our results demonstrate that compressive stress can relax active tissue force, and points to a potential role of this feedback mechanism during morphogenetic events such as onco- or embryogenesis.
Source: The European Physical Journal E
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Paris Cité, Institut Jacques Monod, Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Politecnico di Torino
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,153
Awards: Self-sustained velocity waves and emergence of robust patterns in biologica modell tissues, G1381066516, G1424406771, Identification of the mechanobiological factors involved in platelet formation, G3010527862, G304773848, Determinants de l'Identité : de la molécule à l'individu, G3232492675, G4656594441, G4774453313, G4866930200, G7080048889, G7724529595, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Regulation of Contractile Forces in Self-assembling Microtissues, G8612648867, From in vivo to in vitro study of cell intercalation
OpenAlex ID: W4411574978