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Stem cell mechanobiology

Stem cell mechanobiology
Stem cell mechanobiology
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are capable of proliferation, self-maintenance and differentiation towards specific cell phenotypes. These processes are controlled by a variety of cues including physicochemical factors associated with the specific mechanical environment in which the cells reside. The control of stem cell biology through mechanical factors remains poorly understood and is the focus of the developing field of mechanobiology. This review provides an insight into the current knowledge of the role of mechanical forces in the induction of differentiation of stem cells. While the details associated with individual studies are complex and typically associated with the stem cell type studied and model system adopted, certain key themes emerge. First, the differentiation process affects the mechanical properties of the cells and of specific subcellular components. Secondly, that stem cells are able to detect and respond to alterations in the stiffness of their surrounding microenvironment via induction of lineage-specific differentiation. Finally, the application of external mechanical forces to stem cells, transduced through a variety of mechanisms, can initiate and drive differentiation processes. The coalescence of these three key concepts permit the introduction of a new theory for the maintenance of stem cells and alternatively their differentiation via the concept of a stem cell 'mechano-niche', defined as a specific combination of cell mechanical properties, extracellular matrix stiffness and external mechanical cues conducive to the maintenance of the stem cell population.

embryonic stem cell, mesenchymal stem cell, mechanobiology, cell mechanics, differentiation, extracellular matrix
0730-2312
1-9
Lee, David A.
1c62bb7c-fe96-442d-b518-13dd6d558871
Knight, Martin M.
03701351-a8b9-4b66-8237-fca60c6b5412
Campbell, Jonathan J.
2f777967-e987-4cfd-ae13-2d0b32bfd072
Bader, Dan L.
9884d4f6-2607-4d48-bf0c-62bdcc0d1dbf
Lee, David A.
1c62bb7c-fe96-442d-b518-13dd6d558871
Knight, Martin M.
03701351-a8b9-4b66-8237-fca60c6b5412
Campbell, Jonathan J.
2f777967-e987-4cfd-ae13-2d0b32bfd072
Bader, Dan L.
9884d4f6-2607-4d48-bf0c-62bdcc0d1dbf

Lee, David A., Knight, Martin M., Campbell, Jonathan J. and Bader, Dan L. (2011) Stem cell mechanobiology. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 112 (1), 1-9. (doi:10.1002/jcb.22758). (PMID:20626029)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are capable of proliferation, self-maintenance and differentiation towards specific cell phenotypes. These processes are controlled by a variety of cues including physicochemical factors associated with the specific mechanical environment in which the cells reside. The control of stem cell biology through mechanical factors remains poorly understood and is the focus of the developing field of mechanobiology. This review provides an insight into the current knowledge of the role of mechanical forces in the induction of differentiation of stem cells. While the details associated with individual studies are complex and typically associated with the stem cell type studied and model system adopted, certain key themes emerge. First, the differentiation process affects the mechanical properties of the cells and of specific subcellular components. Secondly, that stem cells are able to detect and respond to alterations in the stiffness of their surrounding microenvironment via induction of lineage-specific differentiation. Finally, the application of external mechanical forces to stem cells, transduced through a variety of mechanisms, can initiate and drive differentiation processes. The coalescence of these three key concepts permit the introduction of a new theory for the maintenance of stem cells and alternatively their differentiation via the concept of a stem cell 'mechano-niche', defined as a specific combination of cell mechanical properties, extracellular matrix stiffness and external mechanical cues conducive to the maintenance of the stem cell population.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: January 2010
Published date: January 2011
Keywords: embryonic stem cell, mesenchymal stem cell, mechanobiology, cell mechanics, differentiation, extracellular matrix

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 185101
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/185101
ISSN: 0730-2312
PURE UUID: 3a5a78c8-9fea-4c8a-af2f-629c065c19a1
ORCID for Dan L. Bader: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1208-3507

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 09 May 2011 14:22
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:11

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Contributors

Author: David A. Lee
Author: Martin M. Knight
Author: Jonathan J. Campbell
Author: Dan L. Bader ORCID iD

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