Multicellular Regulation of Tensional Homeostasis

Tensional homeostasis in endothelial cells is a multicellular phenomenon.

Mammalian cells of various types exhibit the remarkable ability to adapt to externally applied mechanical stresses and strains. Because of this adaptation, cells can maintain their endogenous mechanical tension at a preferred (homeostatic) level, which is essential for normal physiological functions of cells and tissues and provides protection against various diseases, including atherosclerosis...

Tensional homeostasis and the malignant phenotype.

Tumors are stiffer than normal tissue, and tumors have altered integrins. Because integrins are mechanotransducers that regulate cell fate, we asked whether tissue stiffness could promote malignant behavior by modulating integrins. We found that tumors are rigid because they have a stiff stroma and elevated Rho-dependent cytoskeletal tension that drives focal adhesions, disrupts adherens juncti...

Contributions of talin-1 to glioma cell-matrix tensional homeostasis.

The ability of cells to adapt their mechanical properties to those of the surrounding microenvironment (tensional homeostasis) has been implicated in the progression of a variety of solid tumours, including the brain tumour glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM tumour cells are highly sensitive to extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness and overexpress a variety of focal adhesion proteins, such as ta...

REGULATION OF ACID-BASE HOMEOSTASIS BY THE KIDNEY

Tendon cell ciliary length as a biomarker of in situ cytoskeletal tensional homeostasis.

To determine if tendon cell ciliary length could be used as a biomarker of cytoskeletal tensional homeostasis, 20 mm long adult rat tail tendons were placed in double artery clamps set 18 mm apart to create a 10% laxity. The tendons were allowed to contract over a 7 day period under culture conditions. At 0, 1, 5, and 7 days the tendon cell cilia were stained and ciliary length measured using c...