Hysteresis in the cell response to time-dependent substrate stiffness

• Verfasst von: Besser, Achim [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Schwarz, Ulrich S. [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: Hysteresis in the cell response to time-dependent substrate stiffness
• Verf.angabe: Achim Besser, University of Heidelberg, Bioquant, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany ; Ulrich S. Schwarz, University of Heidelberg, Bioquant, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany and University of Heidelberg, Institute for Theoretical Physics, Philosophenweg 19, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 08.12.2017
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: De.arxiv.org
• Jahr Quelle: 2010
• Band/Heft Quelle: (2010) Artikel-Nummer 1007.1092, 7 Seiten
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• K10plus-PPN: 1566176069

Abstract

Mechanical cues like the rigidity of the substrate are main determinants for the decision making of adherent cells. Here we use a mechano-chemical model to predict the cellular response to varying substrate stiffness. The model equations combine the mechanics of contractile actin filament bundles with a model for the Rho-signaling pathway triggered by forces at cell-matrix contacts. A bifurcation analysis of cellular contractility as a function of substrate stiffness reveals a bistable response, thus defining a lower threshold of stiffness, below which cells are not able to build up contractile forces, and an upper threshold of stiffness, above which cells are always in a strongly contracted state. Using the full dynamical model, we predict that rate-dependent hysteresis will occur in the cellular traction forces when cells are exposed to substrates of time-dependent stiffness.