Aligned Collagen Fibers Drive Distinct Traction Force Signatures to Regulate Contact Guidance.

ABSTRACT: Cellular forces on deposited nonfibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM) have been measured extensively. However, in vivo, cells exert traction forces on collagen fibers within the ECM. Oftentimes, collagen fibers are aligned, as seen in cancer, fibrosis, and during wound healing. How forces are transmitted on aligned collagen fibers and how the cytoskeleton regulates this is unknown. Here, we develop a fiber-traction force microscopy (f-TFM) approach that uses collagen fibers transferred to flexible substrates with fiducial markers on the collagen fibers and in the underlying flexible substrates. We find that the elastic modulus of the substrate determines the steady-state traction stress exerted by cells on aligned collagen fibers but does not affect traction force kinetics. Collagen

SUBMITTER: Niraula G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12392734 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature