Confined Migration & Nucleus Mechanics

Created by Gabrielle Steppic

examples of confined migration
tumorogenesis sub-cellular and sub-nuclear pores tunnel-like trucks

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TermDefinition
examples of confined migrationtumorogenesis sub-cellular and sub-nuclear pores tunnel-like trucks
tumorogenesisfrom primary to secondary tumor metastatis development
sub-cellular and sub-nuclear poresfrom 1 μm to 10 μm
tunnel-like trucks3 μm to 30 μm in width and from 100 μm to 600 μm in length
confined migration in tumorsexhibits aligned, bundled collagen fibers fibrillar collagen along or within blood vessels has epithelial or endothelial surfaces encased in muscle fibre
experimental approaches- biomimetic hydrogels - micro-channels - grooved substrates - microcontact-printed and micro-patterned lines - vertical confinement devices - micropost arrays
biomimetic hydrogels3D gels formed of extracellular matrix proteins or chemically produced polymers
micro-channels devicesrectangular cross-sections with widths and heights between 3 μm and 50 μm
grooved substratessubstrates with parallel, rectangular or trapezoidal troughs that run unidirectionally for lengths much greater than the cell diameter
microcontact-printed and micro-patterned linesthin stripes or patterns of a polymer are deposited on a 2D surface that is otherwise non-adhesive to cells
vertical confinement devices- cells plated on a 2D substrate are sandwiched beneath a PDMS roof - free to migrate laterally but confined at their basal and apical surfaces
micropost arraysdefined but discontinuous barriers to cell migration in the form of vertical posts
nucleus role in confined migration- most voluminous - stiffest - nucleoplasm (≅ 25 Pa) + lamina (≅ 3000 Pa) - critical treshold: 7 μm in collagen gels - modulation of stiffness - knockdown of lamin A
determinants of confined migrationconfined cells high cellular adhesion high degree of cellular contractility linear elastic matrix fibroblasts present actin polymerization inhibited
nucleus mechanicso mechanical stress and strain o localized ruptures of the lamina - DNA damage o apoptosis without repair
mechanicall model of confined migration haso 2D geometry o cell modeled as a hybrid continuum - organelles represented by characteristic functions o deformation gradient decomposition o generalized Maxwell model o micro-channel with rigid walls
constitutive law of confined migrationo generalized Maxwell model o nucleus - nucleoplasm (fluid phase) - lamina (solid phase) o cytoplasm - cytosol (fluid phase) - membrane (solid phase) o polymerization and depolymerization in the cytosol
some mathematical equations that can be used to model confined migration- global equilibrium - active strains - adhesion forces - micro-channels contact force
micropillared substrateo quantify nuclear forces and self strain o is gravity driving nucleus movement ? o is the nucleus pushed or pulled ? -> contractile fibers - above the nucleus: perinuclear actin cap (PAC) - around the pillar beneath the nucleus
spreading of a micropillared substrateo passive phase - cell settles under gravity action - deforms depending on its stiffness o active phase - protrusion and contraction
constitutive law of micropillared substrate is measured witho generalized Maxwell model - solid and fluid phases - active strains in the cytosol
some forces that can be measured to mathematically model migration on a micropillared substrate aregravity contact force adhesive-spreading force
active strains of confined migration- two cellular regions results: nucleus displacement and inverted gravity has negligible effect