Anisotropic mechanosensing by mesenchymal stem cells.

ABSTRACT: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a potential source for the construction of tissue-engineered vascular grafts. However, how vascular mechanical forces regulate the genetic reprogramming in MSCs is not well understood. Mechanical strain in the vascular wall is anisotropic and mainly in the circumferential direction. We have shown that cyclic uniaxial strain on elastic substrates causes the cells to align perpendicularly to the strain axis, which is different from that in the vascular wall. To simulate the vascular cell alignment and investigate the anisotropic mechanical sensing by MSCs, we used soft lithography to create elastomeric membranes with parallel microgrooves. This topographic pattern kept MSCs aligned parallel to the strain axis, and the cells were subjected to 5% cyclic uniaxi

SUBMITTER: Kurpinski K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1637542 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature