The decrease in elasticity of epithelial tissues with ageing contributes to many human diseases. This change was previously attributed to increased crosslinking of extracellular matrix proteins. Here we show that individual human epithelial cells also become significantly more rigid during ageing in vitro. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we found that the Young's modulus of viable cells was consistently increased two- to four-fold in older versus younger cells. Direct visualization of the cytoskeleton using a novel method involving the AFM suggested that increased rigidity of ageing cells was due to a higher density of cytoskeletal fibres. Our results identify a unique mechanism that might contribute to the age-related loss of elasticity in epithelial tissues.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/50/1/007 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Intervention of a Communication Between PI3K/Akt and β-Catenin by (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Suppresses TGF-β1-Promoted Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasive Phenotype of NSCLC Cells.
Environ Toxicol
January 2025
Department of Medical Research, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) assists in the acquisition of invasiveness, relapse, and resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and can be caused by the signaling of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) through Smad-mediated or Smad-independent pathways. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a multifunctional cancer-preventing bioconstituent found in tea polyphenols, has been shown to repress TGF-β1-triggered EMT in the human NSCLC A549 cell line by inhibiting the activation of Smad2 and Erk1/2 or reducing the acetylation of Smad2 and Smad3. However, its impact on the Smad-independent pathway remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMigrasomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells: a new therapeutic agent for ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice.
Stem Cell Res Ther
January 2025
Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212000, Jiangsu, P. R. China.
Background: Asthma is a prevalent respiratory disease, and its management remains largely unsatisfactory. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been demonstrated to be efficacious in reducing airway inflammation in experimental allergic diseases, representing a potential alternative treatment for asthma. Migrasomes are recently identified extracellular vesicles (EVs) generated in migrating cells and facilitate intercellular communication.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel transcripts of EMT driving the malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis.
Sci Rep
January 2025
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India.
Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, progressive, and fibrotic condition of the oral mucosa that carries an elevated risk of malignant transformation. We aimed to identify and validate novel genes associated with the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OSF. Genes regulating EMT were identified through differential gene expression analysis, using a LogFC threshold of -1 and + 1 and a padj value < 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFp53-loss induced prostatic epithelial cell plasticity and invasion is driven by a crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment.
Cell Death Dis
January 2025
Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, France.
Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a slow progression and a highly variable clinical outcome. The tumor suppressor genes PTEN and TP53 are frequently mutated in prostate cancer and are predictive of early metastatic dissemination and unfavorable patient outcomes. The progression of solid tumors to metastasis is often associated with increased cell plasticity, but the complex events underlying TP53-loss-induced disease aggressiveness remain incompletely understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRevisiting epigenetic regulation in cancer: Evolving trends and translational implications.
Int Rev Cell Mol Biol
January 2025
Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. Electronic address:
Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The evolving role of epigenetics and tumor microenvironments of cancer pose significant challenges to the management of cancer. Besides genetics, epigenetic changes play a crucial role in the alteration of cellular machinery, progression, metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and chemoresistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!