Endothelial cells (ENCs) and epithelial cells (EPCs) form monolayers whose barrier function is critical for the maintenance of physiological processes and extremely sensitive to mechanical cues. Computational models have emerged as powerful tools to elucidate how mechanical cues impact the behavior of these monolayers in health and disease. Herein, the importance of mechanics in regulating ENC and EPC monolayer behavior is established, highlighting similarities and differences in various biological contexts. Concurrently, computational approaches and their importance in accelerating mechanobiology studies are discussed, emphasizing their limitations and suggesting future directions. The aim is to inspire further synergies between cell biologists and modelers, which are crucial for accelerating cell mechanobiology research.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2024.12.014 | DOI Listing |
BMC Biol
January 2025
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from endothelial cells (ECs) are increasingly recognized for their role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. ECs experience varying degrees and types of blood flow depending on their specific arterial locations. In regions of disturbed flow, which are predominant sites for atherosclerotic plaque formation, the impact of disturbed flow on the secretion and function of ECs-derived EVs remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTrends Cell Biol
January 2025
Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine (IMIT), Cluster of Excellence 'Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections' (CMFI, EXC 2124), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. Electronic address:
Endothelial cells (ENCs) and epithelial cells (EPCs) form monolayers whose barrier function is critical for the maintenance of physiological processes and extremely sensitive to mechanical cues. Computational models have emerged as powerful tools to elucidate how mechanical cues impact the behavior of these monolayers in health and disease. Herein, the importance of mechanics in regulating ENC and EPC monolayer behavior is established, highlighting similarities and differences in various biological contexts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Cell Biol
January 2025
The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA; Center for Gut Microbiome and Nutrition Research, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA. Electronic address:
Since the development of the three-dimensional (3D) "mini-gut" culture system, adult stem cell-derived organoid technology has rapidly advanced, providing in vitro models that replicate key cellular, molecular, and physiological properties of multiple organs. The 3D intestinal organoid system has resolved many long-standing challenges associated with immortalized or cancer cell cultures, offering unparalleled capabilities for modeling gastrointestinal development and diseases. However, significant limitations remain, including restricted accessibility to the epithelial apical surface for studying host-microbe interactions, interruptions in modeling chronic gastrointestinal diseases due to frequent passaging and dissociation, and the absence of mechanical cues such as peristalsis and luminal flow, which are critical for organ development and function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
January 2025
Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex and dynamic three-dimensional network that functions as an architectural scaffold to maintain cardiac homeostasis. Important biochemical and mechanical signals associated with cell‒cell communication are provided via the reciprocal interaction between cells and the ECM. By converting mechanical cues into biochemical signals, the ECM regulates many cell processes, including migration, adhesion, growth, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cell Dev Biol
January 2025
Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.
The Neural Crest cells are multipotent progenitor cells formed at the neural plate border that differentiate and give rise to a wide range of cell types and organs. Directional migration of NC cells and their correct positioning at target sites are essential during embryonic development, and defects in these processes results in congenital diseases. The NC migration begins with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and extracellular matrix remodeling.
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