Epithelial cells exert differential traction stress in response to substrate stiffness.

ABSTRACT: Epithelial wound healing is essential for maintaining the function and clarity of the cornea. Successful repair after injury involves the coordinated movements of cell sheets over the wounded region. While collective migration has been the focus of studies, the effects that environmental changes have on this form of movement are poorly understood. To examine the role of substrate compliancy on multi-layered epithelial sheet migration, we performed traction force and confocal microscopy to determine differences in traction forces and to examine focal adhesions on synthetic and biological substrates. The leading edges of corneal epithelial sheets undergo retraction or contraction prior to migration, and alterations in the sheet's stiffness are affected by the amount of force exerted by cells

SUBMITTER: Onochie OE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6443458 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature