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| Guidance of Cell Migration by Mechanical Interactions |
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| C.-M. Lo, H.-B. Wang, M. Dembo and Y.-l. Wang (2000) |
| Biophys. J. 79:144-152. |
| The direction and rate of cell migration are sensitive to chemical factors. To test if cell migration is also sensitive to mechanical interactions with the substrate, we plated cells on substrates of different flexibility or applied mechanical forces to cells cultured on flexible substrates. |
| Fibroblasts Migrate Away from Soft Substrates |
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Size = 300 x 222 pixels.| NIH 3T3 cells are plated on polyacrylamide substrates with a transition in flexibility. The soft side is marked with fluorescent beads. Cells turn to avoid the soft substrate as they approach the boundary from the stiff side, by retracting the leading lamellipodium that crossed the boundary. |
| Fibroblasts Migrate Toward Stiff Substrates |
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Size = 282 x 204 pixels.| NIH 3T3 cells are plated on polyacrylamide substrates with a transition in flexibility. The soft side is marked with fluorescent beads. Cells turn toward and enter the stiff side as they approach the boundary from the soft side, by expanding protrusions toward the boundary into a leading lamellipodium. |
| Fibroblasts Migrate Toward Stretching Forces |
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Size = 254 x 254 pixels.| NIH 3T3 cells are plated on polyacrylamide substrates. Pulling forces are exerted by inserting a blunted needle in the substrate near the trailing end of the cell and dragging the needle away from the cell. Cells switch the direction of migration by expanding secondary protrusions toward the needle into a leading lamellipodium. |
| Fibroblasts Migrate Away from Compressing Forces |
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Size = 266 x 254 pixels.| NIH 3T3 cells are plated on polyacrylamide substrates. Pushing forces are exerted by inserting a blunted needle in the substrate near the leading edge of an approaching cell and moving the needle toward the cell. Cells switch the direction of migration by retracting the leading lamellipodium. |