Asymmetric migration of human keratinocytes under mechanical stretch and cocultured fibroblasts in a wound repair model.

Keratinocyte migration during re-epithelization is crucial in wound healing under biochemical and biomechanical microenvironment. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms whereby mechanical tension and cocultured fibroblasts or keratinocytes modulate the migration of keratinocytes or fibroblasts. Here we applied a tensile device together with a modified transwell assay to determine the lateral and transmembrane migration dynamics of human HaCaT keratinocytes or HF fibroblasts.

Molecular dynamics simulation of shear- and stretch-induced dissociation of P-selectin/PSGL-1 complex.

By mediating the tethering and rolling of leukocytes on vascular surfaces, the interactions between P-selectin and the P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1) play crucial roles during inflammation cascade. Tensile stretch produced by rolling leukocytes and shear stress exerted by blood flow constitute the two types of mechanical forces that act on the P-selectin/PSGL-1 bond. These forces modulate not only dissociation kinetics of this bond, but also the leukocyte adhesion dynamics.