Mechanical imbalance between normal and cancer cells drives epithelial defense against cancer.

ABSTRACT: Cell competition enables normal wildtype cells of epithelial tissue to eliminate mutant cells expressing activated oncoproteins such as HRas ^V12 . However, the driving force behind this fundamental epithelial defense against cancer remains enigmatic. Here, we employ tissue stress microscopy and theoretical modeling and invent a new collective compressibility measurement technique called gel compression microscopy to unveil the mechanism governing cell competition. Stress microscopy reveals unique compressive stress experienced by the mutant cells, contrasting with predominantly tensile stress experienced by normal cells. A cell-based computer simulation then predicts that this compressive stress arises out of a mechanical imbalance between two competing populations due to a diff

SUBMITTER: Gupta P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10635021 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature