Cellular mechanotransduction in 3D extracellular matrices

A cell never sits alone in a living organism. It is surrounded by other cells and a filamentous network called the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanical forces exerted by the cells (called traction forces) actively prestress and remodel the ECM. This process is very important for tissue morphogenesis and normal tissue functioning and also contributes to wound healing. We study cell traction forces for cells embedded in simplified ECMs reconstituted from fibrin and collagen. To quantify traction forces, we develop 3D traction force microscopy which takes into account the nonlinear and noncontinuum elastic properties of the ECM. In the end, we want to answer the following questions: How are cell traction forces dependent on their environment? Is the maximal traction force dependent on cell type and how does it correlate with the cytoskeletal and adhesion organization of the cell?

More information: Karin Jansen