Cyclic stretching of soft substrates induces spreading and growth

Yidan Cui, Feroz M. Hameed, Bo Yang, Kyunghee Lee, Catherine Qiurong Pan, Sungsu Park () and Michael Sheetz ()
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Yidan Cui: Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore
Feroz M. Hameed: Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore
Bo Yang: Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore
Kyunghee Lee: Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore
Catherine Qiurong Pan: Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore
Sungsu Park: Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore
Michael Sheetz: Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract In the body, soft tissues often undergo cycles of stretching and relaxation that may affect cell behaviour without changing matrix rigidity. To determine whether transient forces can substitute for a rigid matrix, we stretched soft pillar arrays. Surprisingly, 1–5% cyclic stretching over a frequency range of 0.01–10 Hz caused spreading and stress fibre formation (optimum 0.1 Hz) that persisted after 4 h of stretching. Similarly, stretching increased cell growth rates on soft pillars comparative to rigid substrates. Of possible factors linked to fibroblast growth, MRTF-A (myocardin-related transcription factor-A) moved to the nucleus in 2 h of cyclic stretching and reversed on cessation; but YAP (Yes-associated protein) moved much later. Knockdown of either MRTF-A or YAP blocked stretch-dependent growth. Thus, we suggest that the repeated pulling from a soft matrix can substitute for a stiff matrix in stimulating spreading, stress fibre formation and growth.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7333

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