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Universal physical responses to stretch in the living cell

Author

Listed:
  • Xavier Trepat

    (Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA)

  • Linhong Deng

    (Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
    ‘111 project’ Laboratory of Biomechanics and Tissue Repair, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China)

  • Steven S. An

    (Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
    Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA)

  • Daniel Navajas

    (Unitat de Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Universitat de Barcelona-IDIBAPS, Ciber Enfermedades Respiratorias, and Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, 08036 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Daniel J. Tschumperlin

    (Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA)

  • William T. Gerthoffer

    (School of Medicine, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA)

  • James P. Butler

    (Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA)

  • Jeffrey J. Fredberg

    (Program in Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA)

Abstract

A stretch in the cells How do cells in our body go about their routine mechanical business of stretching, contracting and remodelling? This question has far-reaching implications for understanding airway narrowing in asthma, cell invasion in cancer and vessel constriction in cardiovascular disease. The answer, arrived at in a novel experimental system measuring the 'stretch' of human airway smooth muscle cells, is that the cell has much in common with familiar materials including tomato ketchup, shaving foam and toothpaste. These materials fluidize when deformed, as do granular materials including sugar in a bowl or coffee beans. Such materials act as a glass-like intermediate form of matter, neither solid nor fluid but retaining features of both.

Suggested Citation

  • Xavier Trepat & Linhong Deng & Steven S. An & Daniel Navajas & Daniel J. Tschumperlin & William T. Gerthoffer & James P. Butler & Jeffrey J. Fredberg, 2007. "Universal physical responses to stretch in the living cell," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7144), pages 592-595, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:447:y:2007:i:7144:d:10.1038_nature05824
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05824
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    Cited by:

    1. Ronald Springer & Alexander Zielinski & Catharina Pleschka & Bernd Hoffmann & Rudolf Merkel, 2019. "Unbiased pattern analysis reveals highly diverse responses of cytoskeletal systems to cyclic straining," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Lars Wolff & Pablo Fernández & Klaus Kroy, 2012. "Resolving the Stiffening-Softening Paradox in Cell Mechanics," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-7, July.

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