Matrix stiffness modulates infection of endothelial cells by Listeria monocytogenes via expression of cell surface vimentin.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular matrix stiffness (ECM) is one of the many mechanical forces acting on mammalian adherent cells and an important determinant of cellular function. While the effect of ECM stiffness on many aspects of cellular behavior has been studied previously, how ECM stiffness might mediate susceptibility of host cells to infection by bacterial pathogens is hitherto unexplored. To address this open question, we manufactured hydrogels of varying physiologically relevant stiffness and seeded human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) on them. We then infected HMEC-1 with the bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and found that adhesion of Lm to host cells increases monotonically with increasing matrix stiffness, an effect that requires the activity of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)

SUBMITTER: Bastounis EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6080647 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature