T0201-2-2 培養血管平滑筋細胞の巨視的引張負荷・除荷に伴う細胞内張力変化のその場計測([T0201-2]細胞の構造と流れにおけるマイクロ・ナノスケール解析(2))

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Traction force generated at focal adhesions (FAs) of cells plays an essential role in regulating cellular functions. However, little is known about how the traction force at each FA changes during cell stretching. Here we investigated the changes in traction force at FAs during macroscopic stretching of porcine aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) cultured on elastic micropillar substrates. SMCs were plated on a polydimethylsiloxane-based micropillar array substrate. After cell spreading, the SMCs were stretched and released in their major axis direction. These stretch/release cycles were carried out with the strain rates of 0.3%/15s, and the deflection of the micropillars were measured simultaneously to obtain the traction force at each FA. Traction forces at both ends of the cells did not change significantly during the cycles with 3% strain, while the forces changed notably with 6% strain. Interestingly, these forces decreased with increase of their strain and vice versa. These results indicate that the SMCs showed active responses to keep their internal tension constant during the macroscopic stretch/release, namely, mechanical homeostatic responses. SMCs may have a strain threshold to activate these responses.
2010-09-04