Schwann cell durotaxis can be guided by physiologically relevant stiffness gradients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Successful nerve regeneration depends upon directed migration of morphologically specialized repair state Schwann cells across a nerve defect. Although several groups have studied directed migration of Schwann cells in response to chemical or topographic cues, the current understanding of how the mechanical environment influences migration remains largely understudied and incomplete. Therefore, the focus of this study was to evaluate Schwann cell migration and morphodynamics in the presence of stiffness gradients, which revealed that Schwann cells can follow extracellular gradients of increasing stiffness, in a form of directed migration termed durotaxis.

Methods

Polyacrylamide substrates were fabricated to mimic the range of stiffness found in peripheral nerve ti

SUBMITTER: Evans EB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5948700 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature