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Cell and Tissue Nanomechanics: From Early Development to Carcinogenesis

Authors :
Mikhail E. Shmelev
Sergei I. Titov
Andrei S. Belousov
Vladislav M. Farniev
Valeriia M. Zhmenia
Daria V. Lanskikh
Alina O. Penkova
Vadim V. Kumeiko
Source :
Biomedicines, Vol 10, Iss 2, p 345 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

Cell and tissue nanomechanics, being inspired by progress in high-resolution physical mapping, has recently burst into biomedical research, discovering not only new characteristics of normal and diseased tissues, but also unveiling previously unknown mechanisms of pathological processes. Some parallels can be drawn between early development and carcinogenesis. Early embryogenesis, up to the blastocyst stage, requires a soft microenvironment and internal mechanical signals induced by the contractility of the cortical actomyosin cytoskeleton, stimulating quick cell divisions. During further development from the blastocyst implantation to placenta formation, decidua stiffness is increased ten-fold when compared to non-pregnant endometrium. Organogenesis is mediated by mechanosignaling inspired by intercellular junction formation with the involvement of mechanotransduction from the extracellular matrix (ECM). Carcinogenesis dramatically changes the mechanical properties of cells and their microenvironment, generally reproducing the structural properties and molecular organization of embryonic tissues, but with a higher stiffness of the ECM and higher cellular softness and fluidity. These changes are associated with the complete rearrangement of the entire tissue skeleton involving the ECM, cytoskeleton, and the nuclear scaffold, all integrated with each other in a joint network. The important changes occur in the cancer stem-cell niche responsible for tumor promotion and metastatic growth. We expect that the promising concept based on the natural selection of cancer cells fixing the most invasive phenotypes and genotypes by reciprocal regulation through ECM-mediated nanomechanical feedback loop can be exploited to create new therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22279059
Volume :
10
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biomedicines
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.0a4a163505fe4a2784b0d1bc608b7a32
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10020345