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Cell prestress. I. Stiffness and prestress are closely associated in adherent contractile cellsThe tensegrity hypothesis holds that the cytoskeleton is a structure whose shape is stabilized predominantly by the tensile stresses borne by filamentous structures. Accordingly, cell stiffness must increase in proportion with the level of the tensile stress, which is called the prestress. Here we have tested that prediction in adherent human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. Traction microscopy was used to measure the distribution of contractile stresses arising at the interface between each cell and its substrate; this distribution is called the traction field. Because the traction field must be balanced by tensile stresses within the cell body, the prestress could be computed. Cell stiffness (G) was measured by oscillatory magnetic twisting cytometry. As the contractile state of the cell was modulated with graded concentrations of relaxing or contracting agonists (isoproterenol or histamine, respectively), the mean prestress ((t)) ranged from 350 to 1,900 Pa. Over that range, cell stiffness increased linearly with the prestress: G (Pa) = 0.18(t) + 92. While this association does not necessarily preclude other interpretations, it is the hallmark of systems that secure shape stability mainly through the prestress. Regardless of mechanism, these data establish a strong association between stiffness of HASM cells and the level of tensile stress within the cytoskeleton.
Document ID
20040088485
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wang, Ning
(Harvard School of Public Health 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States)
Tolic-Norrelykke, Iva Marija
Chen, Jianxin
Mijailovich, Srboljub M.
Butler, James P.
Fredberg, Jeffrey J.
Stamenovic, Dimitrije
Ingber, D. E.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 2002
Publication Information
Publication: American journal of physiology. Cell physiology
Volume: 282
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0363-6143
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: HL-65371
CONTRACT_GRANT: HL 33009
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Cell Biology
Non-NASA Center

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