Rigidity-driven growth and migration of epithelial cells on microstructured anisotropic substrates.

ABSTRACT: The physical properties of the cellular environment are involved in regulating the formation and maintenance of tissues. In particular, substrate rigidity appears to be a key factor dictating cell response on culture surfaces. Here we study the behavior of epithelial cells cultured on microfabricated substrates engineered to exhibit an anisotropic stiffness. The substrate consists of a dense array of micropillars of oval cross-section, so that one direction is made stiffer than the other. We demonstrate how such an anisotropic rigidity can induce directional epithelial growth and guide cell migration along the direction of greatest rigidity. Regions of high tractional stress and large cellular deformations within the sheets of cells are concentrated at the edges, in particular at the two p

SUBMITTER: Saez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1895941 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature