基底周期拉伸引起ECV-304细胞形态学变化的分析

对ECV-304细胞施以最大应变10％、0.67Hz的周期拉伸,利用计算机图像处理系统,对周期拉伸过程中ECV-304细胞的取向调整进行了形态学分析,结果显示：周期拉伸能引起细胞长轴取向垂直于最大主应变方向;加载12h内细胞长短径比增加,12-24h之间长短径比下降,随后趋于稳定;细胞在周期拉伸最大主应变方向上的最大截距缩短,而在垂直于最大主应变方向上的最大截距延长;取向调整的过程与长短径比增大的过程有显著的相关性。表明在周期拉伸过程中的取向调整是一个细胞具有方向差异性的变形过程,而不是刚性的旋转或位移。     

成骨细胞对梯度拉伸应变的响应

采用四点弯曲加载装置对原代的大鼠颅盖骨细胞施加周期性的拉伸刺激,并设计了应变呈梯度增加的加载方式,使成骨细胞受到的拉伸应变为500－1500με,每隔2h增加500με,以考察成骨细胞对变化的力学环境的响应。结果表明,在500με下拉伸2－6h促进了成骨细胞的增殖、碱性磷酸酶活力增强和胞外钙基质沉积。对细胞施加应变呈梯度增加的拉伸刺激,则发现当应变从有利于细胞的生长分化水平（500με）变化为不利于细胞生长分化的水平（1000με,1500με）后,细胞的增殖指数、碱性磷酸酶活力和胞外钙基质分泌量都迅速降低,以适应新的力学环境。说明成骨细胞能够分辨不同的应变水平,并相应地调节自身的生理功能,从而表现出对变化的力学环境的适应。     

机械拉伸对血管平滑肌细胞粘附及生长的影响

通过自行研制的“四点弯曲梁”实验装置对血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）加载培养,并结合显微形态观察和计算机图像处理系统测量细胞铺展投影面积、微管吸吮实验系统检测细胞与表面的粘附力、α-肌动蛋白(actin)免疫组化试验,了解细胞骨架发育和排列取向、流式细胞仪检测细胞动力学以及细胞生长行为等认识VSMC对应变刺激的响应.发现VSMC粘附铺展与实验时间正相关,细胞粘附力、铺展面积、单位面积粘附力4 h后实验组与对照组无显著性差异.VSMC内α-actin发育随加载时间延长呈增加趋势.细胞动力学检测实验组加载24 h后VSMC增殖活动受到抑制.VSMC可能通过调节细胞铺展行为、胞内应力纤维发育等主动机制,实现对机械拉伸的适应性改建.应变刺激有利于体外培养的VSMC维持收缩表型.     

腺苷脱氨酶抑制巨噬细胞增殖迁移的作用研究

目的:探讨腺苷脱氨酶对鼠源巨噬细胞RAW264.7增殖、迁移、细胞周期、细胞凋亡的影响。方法:用不同浓度(0、0.25、1.25、2.5、5U/m L)的腺苷脱氨酶处理RAW264.7细胞后,用实时细胞分析系统检测细胞增殖能力,用流式细胞术检测腺苷脱氨酶对细胞凋亡和周期的影响,划痕修复实验检测RAW264.7细胞迁移能力。结果:与对照组相比,高浓度腺苷脱氨酶(2.5 U/m L、5 U/m L)处理可以显著抑制RAW264.7细胞的增殖能力,且抑制效果随腺苷脱氨酶浓度升高而增强(P<0.05)。流式细胞术检测结果显示,相较于对照组,高浓度腺苷脱氨酶(2.5 U/m L)处理可以诱导RAW264.7细胞凋亡,并导致细胞周期G2/M期阻滞(P<0.05)。此外,细胞划痕实验表明,高浓度腺苷脱氨酶(2.5 U/m L)处理可以显著抑制RAW264.7巨噬细胞的迁移能力(P<0.05)。结论:高浓度腺苷脱氨酶对巨噬细胞增殖和迁移具有抑制作用,并可诱导细胞凋亡和细胞周期阻滞。     

小鼠皮肤黑色素瘤细胞在三种不同基质上的趋电性比较

微小直流电场具有指导细胞进行定向迁移的作用。各种细胞外基质的物理、化学性质会影响细胞的迁移。该研究以小鼠皮肤黑色素瘤细胞（B16-F10）为模型,比较微直流电场（250mV／mm）指导下细胞在平滑基底与两种不同市售基质Matrigel及FNC上的趋电性。结果显示,黑色素瘤细胞在三种基底上均有明显的向电场阴极迁移的趋电运动,但在不同基质上细胞趋电的方向性无显著差异,但细胞迁移速度及在细胞沿电场进行定向迁移的持续性有显著差异。     

VEGF通过调节黏着斑促进间充质干细胞的黏附及铺展

间充质干细胞（mesenchymalstemcells,MSCs）具有多向分化潜能并能在体外趋化剂或细胞因子的作用下进行定向迁移,体内移植后可趋向迁移至脑瘤病灶区。细胞黏附是细胞迁移的首要条件,了解细胞黏附及其调控有助于细胞迁移机制的研究。细胞黏附及铺展涉及到黏着斑（f0－caladhesions,FAs）的动态变化以及细胞骨架的重排。细胞铺展面积在黏附过程中逐渐增大,黏附初期形成的小的黏着复合物逐渐成熟,聚集在一起形成较大的FAs。肌动蛋白（F—actin）聚集形成的螺线圈样微丝结构逐渐被应力纤维代替,细胞也由圆形变为具有极性的梭形或多角形。黏着斑激酶（focal adhesion kinase,FAK）和桩蛋白（paxillin）具有调节FAs聚合及骨架重排的作用,其中,Y397－FAK和Y31／Y118－paxillin的磷酸化活性在细胞铺展过程中不断变化。FAs组装时,Y397－FAK的磷酸化活性升高;FAs成熟后,Y397．FAK的磷酸化活性下降。活化的FAK能够磷酸4LY31／Y118-paxillin,激活paxillin参与调节细胞骨架的形成和排列。血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growthfactor,VEGF）诱导~SMSCs黏附过程中,细胞面积变大,完全铺展的时间缩短,黏着斑及细胞骨架的形成均提前。另外,VEGF诱导的细胞铺展过程中形成的FAs形态细长,数量较多。该研究表明,VEGF通过调节黏着斑和细胞骨架促L~MSCs的黏附与铺展,提示vEGF可以通过调节黏着斑进而调控MSCs的定向迁移,为细胞迁移行为的研究提供理论基础。     

基底膜拉伸应变对培养的大鼠血管平滑肌细胞形态的影响

目的：探索拉伸应变与血管平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）形态变化的关系,了解ＶＳＭＣ在血管壁对应力适应性改建中的响应。方法：运用自行研制的基底膜伸张装置实验系统,通过液压工作对培养于硅胶膜上的ＶＳＭＣ施以不同强度或不同时间的应变影响,模拟生理应力微环境中ＶＳＭＣ受到的二维伸应变,结合显微形态观察,计算机图像处理,了解拉伸应变与ＶＳＭＣ形态变化的定量关系。结果：（１）加载３ｍｉｎ－６ｈ内ＶＳＭＣ铺展进行性增加     

同源异型盒基因对血管平滑肌细胞的调控作用

同源异型盒基因是一类对生物体的生长、发育和分化从时间和空间上进行协调的调控基因。构成血管中膜的血管平滑肌细胞表型具有极大的可塑性。在一些病理性血管重构时,血管平滑肌细胞可发生表型调变,从分化型调变为去分化型,具备增殖和迁移能力。在此过程中,多种同源异型盒基因的表达发挥了重要的调控作用。现就同源异型盒基因与血管平滑肌细胞的表型调变、增殖和迁移的关系等方面的研究进展作一综述。     

拉伸作用对成骨细胞粘附、铺展、粘弹性的影响

采用四点弯曲梁实验装置（自行研制）对离体培养的大鼠成骨细胞,施以拉伸应变影响,通过微管吸吮系统、显微摄录、计算机图像系统了解细胞的粘附、铺展行为和细胞的粘弹性变化,认识细胞形态、粘附力及变形性对机械刺激的响应。发现：（1）机械拉伸2h成骨细胞与基底粘附力以及细胞单位面积粘附力较对照组明显升高,但加载后期与对照无明显;（2）成骨细胞粘弹性较对照组略低;（3）加载24h(500με）实验组细胞增殖比对照组快。机械拉伸有成骨细胞生长,并可通过粘附、铺展调整、削减应变影响。     

周期应变对动脉平滑肌细胞分泌血管紧张素II的影响

应用自行设计的硅胶膜伸张加载装置对培养于硅胶膜上的Ｗｉｓｔａｒ 大鼠主动脉平滑肌细胞施以周期性二维伸张应变（ 最大伸长比：纵向０ ．７ ％ ,横向０ ．３ ％ ） ,运用放射免疫沉淀法对其ＡｇＩＩ 的分泌量进行测定, 结果表明： 加载组血管紧张素ＩＩ 分泌量明显高于对照组（Ｐ＜ ０ ．００１ ,２ｈ ,１０ｈ 除外） ,对照组分泌曲线较平坦,而加载组曲线较尖锐;加载４ｈ ,ＡｇＩＩ分泌量达到峰值（２１９ ±２０ ．０ｐｇ／１０５ｃｅｌｌｓ） 。结合形态观察,表明力学信号能对主动脉平滑肌细胞的行为产生明显影响     

A device to study the effects of stretch gradients on cell behavior

Mechanical forces are key regulators of cell function with varying loads capable of modulating behaviors such as alignment, migration, phenotype modulation, and others. Historically, cell-stretching experiments have employed mechanically simple environments (e.g., uniform uniaxial or equibiaxial stretches). However, stretch distributions in vivo can be highly non-uniform, particularly in cases of disease or subsequent to interventional treatments. Herein, we present a cell-stretching device capable of subjecting cells to controllable gradients in biaxial stretch via radial deformation of circular elastomeric membranes. By including either a defect or a rigid fixation at the center of the membrane, various gradients are generated. Capabilities of the device were quantified by tracking marked positions of the membrane while applying various loads, and experimental feasibility was assessed by conducting preliminary experiments with 3T3 fibroblasts and 10T1/2 cells subjected to 24 h of cyclic stretch. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure changes in mRNA expression of a profile of genes representing the major smooth muscle phenotypes. Genes associated with the contractile state were both upregulated (e.g., calponin) and downregulated (e.g., α-2-actin), and genes associated with the synthetic state were likewise both upregulated (e.g., SKI-like oncogene) and downregulated (e.g., collagen III). In addition, cells aligned with an orientation perpendicular to the maximal stretch direction. We have developed an in vitro cell culture device that can produce non-uniform stretch environments similar to in vivo mechanics. Cells stretched with this device showed alignment and altered mRNA expression indicative of phenotype modulation. Understanding these processes as they relate to in vivo pathologies could enable a more accurately targeted treatment to heal or inhibit disease, either through implantable device design or pharmaceutical approaches.     

Orientation and length of mammalian skeletal myocytes in response to a unidirectional stretch

Effects of mechanical forces exerted on mammalian skeletal muscle cells during development were studied using an in vitro model to unidirectionally stretch cultured C2C12 cells grown on silastic membrane. Previous models to date have not studied these responses of the mammalian system specifically. The silastic membrane upon which these cells were grown exhibited linear strain behavior over the range of 3.6-14.6% strain, with a Poisson's ratio of approximately 0.5. To mimic murine in utero long bone growth, cell substrates were stretched at an average strain rate of 2.36%/day for 4 days or 1.77%/day for 6 days with an overall membrane strain of 9.5% and 10.6%, respectively. Both control and stretched fibers stained positively for the contractile protein, alpha-actinin, demonstrating muscle fiber development. An effect of stretch on orientation and length of myofibers was observed. At both strain rates, stretched fibers aligned at a smaller angle relative to the direction of stretch and were significantly longer compared to randomly oriented control fibers. There was no effect of duration of stretch on orientation or length, suggesting the cellular responses are independent of strain rate for the range tested. These results demonstrate that, under conditions simulating mammalian long bone growth, cultured myocytes respond to mechanical forces by lengthening and orienting along the direction of stretch.     

Fast-crawling cell types migrate to avoid the direction of periodic substratum stretching

To investigate the relationship between mechanical stimuli from substrata and related cell functions, one of the most useful techniques is the application of mechanical stimuli via periodic stretching of elastic substrata. In response to this stimulus, Dictyostelium discoideum cells migrate in a direction perpendicular to the stretching direction. The origins of directional migration, higher migration velocity in the direction perpendicular to the stretching direction or the higher probability of a switch of migration direction to perpendicular to the stretching direction, however, remain unknown. In this study, we applied periodic stretching stimuli to neutrophil-like differentiated HL-60 cells, which migrate perpendicular to the direction of stretch. Detailed analysis of the trajectories of HL-60 cells and Dictyostelium cells obtained in a previous study revealed that the higher probability of a switch of migration direction to that perpendicular to the direction of stretching was the main cause of such directional migration. This directional migration appears to be a strategy adopted by fast-crawling cells in which they do not migrate faster in the direction they want to go, but migrate to avoid a direction they do not want to go.     

A kinematic model of stretch-induced stress fiber turnover and reorientation

A kinetic model based on constrained mixture theory was developed to describe the reorganization of actin stress fibers in adherent cells in response to diverse patterns of mechanical stretch. The model was based on reports that stress fibers are pre-extended at a “homeostatic” level under normal, non-perturbed conditions, and that perturbations in stress fiber length destabilize stress fibers. In response to a step change in matrix stretch, the model predicts that stress fibers are initially stretched in registry with the matrix, but that these overly stretched fibers are gradually replaced by new fibers assembled with the homeostatic level of stretch in the new configuration of the matrix. In contrast, average fiber stretch is chronically perturbed from the homeostatic level when the cells are subjected to cyclic equibiaxial stretch. The model was able to describe experimentally measured time courses of stress fiber reorientation perpendicular to the direction of cyclic uniaxial stretch, as well as the lack of alignment in response to equibiaxial stretch. The model also accurately described the relationship between stretch magnitude and the extent of stress fiber alignment in endothelial cells subjected to cyclic uniaxial stretch. Further, in the case of cyclic simple elongation with transverse matrix contraction, stress fibers orient in the direction of least perturbation in stretch. In summary, the model predicts that the rate of stretch-induced stress fiber disassembly determines the rate of alignment, and that stress fibers tend to orient toward the direction of minimum matrix stretch where the rate of stress fiber turnover is a minimum.     

Effect of cyclic axial stretch of rat arteries on endothelial cytoskeletal morphology and vascular reactivity

Pulsatile fluid shear stress and circumferential stretch are responsible for the axial alignment of vascular endothelial cells and their actin stress fibers in vivo. We studied the effect of cyclic alterations in axial stretch independent of flow on endothelial cytoskeletal organization in intact arteries and determined if functional alterations accompanied morphologic alterations. Rat renal arteries were axially stretched (20%, 0.5 Hz) around their in vivo lengths, for up to 4h. Actin stress fibers were examined by immunofluorescent staining. We found that cyclic axial stretching of intact vessels under normal transmural pressure in the absence of shear stress induces within a few hours realignment of endothelial actin stress fibers toward the circumferential direction. Concomitant with this morphologic alteration, the sensitivity (log(EC(50))) to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator (acetylcholine) was significantly decreased in the stretched vessels (after stretching -5.15+/-0.79 and before stretching -6.71+/-0.78, resp.), while there was no difference in sodium nitroprusside (SNP) sensitivity. There was no difference in sensitivity to both acetylcholine and SNP in time control vessels. Similar to cultured cells, endothelial cells in intact vessels subjected to cyclic stretching reorganize their actin filaments almost perpendicular to the stretching direction. Accompanying this morphological alteration is a loss of endothelium-dependent vasodilation but not of smooth muscle responsiveness.     

Mechanodependent cell movements in the axial rudiments of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xenopus</Emphasis> gastrulae

Sandwich explants of the suprablastoporal area of Xenopus early-mid gastrula and same stages of entire embryos were stretched with two needles perpendicular to the direction of natural elongation of the axial rudiments. The changes in the embryonic shape and histological structure were monitored as well as the arrangement of descendants of one of dorsal blastomers labeled with fluorescein-dextran at the 16-cell stage. A substantial fraction of stretched explants reoriented along the applied stretch direction. The arrangement dynamics of fluorescein-dextran-labeled cells and explant shape demonstrate that this is an active response based on convergent intercalation of cells induced by stretching. Stretched gastrulae demonstrated arrested gastrulation, dorsoventral extension of the blastopore, and ventral flow of labeled cells towards the lateral lips of the blastopore, which was also mediated by convergent intercalation and tensotaxis. The obtained data are discussed in terms of the hypothesis of mechanical stress hyper-restoration.     

Regulation of stretch-induced JNK activation by stress fiber orientation

Cyclic mechanical stretch associated with pulsatile blood pressure can modulate cytoskeletal remodeling and intracellular signaling in vascular endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of stretch-induced actin stress fiber orientation in intracellular signaling involving the activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in bovine aortic endothelial cells. A stretch device was designed with the capability of applying cyclic uniaxial and equibiaxial stretches to cultured endothelial cells, as well as changing the direction of cyclic uniaxial stretch. In response to 10% cyclic equibiaxial stretch, which did not result in stress fiber orientation, JNK activation was elevated for up to 6 h. In response to 10% cyclic uniaxial stretch, JNK activity was only transiently elevated, followed by a return to basal level as the actin stress fibers became oriented perpendicular to the direction of stretch. After the stress fibers had aligned perpendicularly and the JNK activity had subsided, a 90-degree change in the direction of cyclic uniaxial stretch reactivated JNK, and this activation again subsided as stress fibers became re-oriented perpendicular to the new direction of stretch. Disrupting actin filaments with cytochalasin D blocked the stress fiber orientation in response to cyclic uniaxial stretch and it also caused the uniaxial stretch-induced JNK activation to become sustained. These results suggest that stress fiber orientation perpendicular to the direction of stretch provides a mechanism for both structural and biochemical adaptation to cyclic mechanical stretch.     

A kinematic model coupling stress fiber dynamics with JNK activation in response to matrix stretching

The role of the actin cytoskeleton in regulating mechanotransduction in response to external forces is complex and incompletely understood. Here, we develop a mathematical model coupling the dynamic disassembly and reassembly of actin stress fibers and associated focal adhesions to the activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in cells attached to deformable matrices. The model is based on the assumptions that stress fibers are pre-extended to a preferred level under static conditions and that perturbations from this preferred level destabilize the stress fibers. The subsequent reassembly of fibers upregulates the rate of JNK activation as a result of the formation of new integrin bonds within the associated focal adhesions. Numerical solutions of the model equations predict that different patterns of matrix stretch result in distinct temporal patterns in JNK activation that compare well with published experimental results. In the case of cyclic uniaxial stretching, stretch-induced JNK activation slowly subsides as stress fibers gradually reorient perpendicular to the stretch direction. In contrast, JNK activation is chronically elevated in response to cyclic equibiaxial stretch. A step change in either uniaxial or equibiaxial stretch results in a short, transient upregulation in JNK that quickly returns to the basal level as overly stretched stress fibers disassemble and are replaced by fibers assembled at the preferred level of stretch. In summary, the model describes a mechanism by which the dynamic properties of the actin cytoskeleton allow cells to adapt to applied forces through turnover and reorganization to modulate intracellular signaling.     

Cyclic stress at mHz frequencies aligns fibroblasts in direction of zero strain

Recognition of external mechanical signals is vital for mammalian cells. Cyclic stretch, e.g. around blood vessels, is one such signal that induces cell reorientation from parallel to almost perpendicular to the direction of stretch. Here, we present quantitative analyses of both, cell and cytoskeletal reorientation of umbilical cord fibroblasts. Cyclic strain of preset amplitudes was applied at mHz frequencies. Elastomeric chambers were specifically designed and characterized to distinguish between zero strain and minimal stress directions and to allow accurate theoretical modeling. Reorientation was only induced when the applied stretch exceeded a specific amplitude, suggesting a non-linear response. However, on very soft substrates no mechanoresponse occurs even for high strain. For all stretch amplitudes, the angular distributions of reoriented cells are in very good agreement with a theory modeling stretched cells as active force dipoles. Cyclic stretch increases the number of stress fibers and the coupling to adhesions. We show that changes in cell shape follow cytoskeletal reorientation with a significant temporal delay. Our data identify the importance of environmental stiffness for cell reorientation, here in direction of zero strain. These in vitro experiments on cultured cells argue for the necessity of rather stiff environmental conditions to induce cellular reorientation in mammalian tissues.