Multicellular aggregates are an excellent model system to explore the role of tissue biomechanics, which has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in many physiological and pathological processes. In this paper, we propose a three-dimensional mechanical model and apply it to the uniaxial compression of a multicellular aggregate in a realistic biological setting. In particular, we consider an aggregate of initially spherical shape and describe both its elastic deformations and the reorganisation of the cells forming the spheroid. The latter phenomenon, understood as remodelling, is accounted for by assuming that the aggregate undergoes plastic-like distortions. The study of the compression of the spheroid, achieved by means of two parallel, compressive plates, needs the formulation of a contact problem between the living spheroid itself and the plates, and is solved with the aid of the augmented Lagrangian method. The results of the performed numerical simulations are in qualitative agreement with the biological observations reported in the literature and can also be used to estimate quantitatively some fundamental aggregate mechanical parameters.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9sm01628g | DOI Listing |
Adv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
CNRS, Univ. Bordeaux, CRPP, UMR 5031, Pessac, F-33600, France.
Three-dimensional multicellular aggregates (MCAs) like organoids and spheroids have become essential tools to study the biological mechanisms involved in the progression of diseases. In cancer research, they are now widely used as in vitro models for drug testing. However, their analysis still relies on tedious manual procedures, which hinders their routine use in large-scale biological assays.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment
January 2025
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan.
Oscillatory dynamics and their modulation are crucial for cellular decision-making; however, analysing these dynamics remains challenging. Here, we present a tool that combines the light-activated adenylate cyclase mPAC with the cAMP biosensor Pink Flamindo, enabling precise manipulation and real-time monitoring of cAMP oscillation frequencies in Dictyostelium. High-frequency modulation of cAMP oscillations induced cell aggregation and multicellular formation, even at low cell densities, such as a few dozen cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExp Cell Res
January 2025
School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India. Electronic address:
Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a well conserved and ubiquitously expressed multifunctional protein found in many organisms and is involved in many pathophysiological processes like cell proliferation, differentiation, development and cell death. The role of TCTP in anti-apoptosis and cancer metastasis makes it a promising candidate for cancer therapy. Dictyostelium discoideum, a protist, has two isoforms (TCTP1 and TCTP2, now referred to as TPT1 and TPT2) of which we have earlier elucidated TPT1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTheranostics
January 2025
Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
Stem Cell Res Ther
December 2024
Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa.
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