Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 17: Posters: Physics of Cells
BP 17.27: Poster
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
Cells & stress: integrin dependent mechanical properties of fibroblasts — •Fenneke KleinJan1, Tobias Pusch1, Thomas Kerst1, Reinhard Fässler2, and Kay Gottschalk1 — 1Ulm University, Institute of Experimental Physics, Ulm, Germany — 2Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Molecular Medicine, Martinsried, Germany
Like humans, cells are often under stress. Blood flow influence endothelial cells, skin cells have to resist stretch and pressure. The protein-family of integrins is a key element in responding to this force, functioning as a bidirectional force signalling protein between the cytoskeleton and the extracellular matrix. Cells are able to respond to force by changing their internal structural elements (cytoskeletal filaments), thereby affecting their mechanical properties.
The 24 integrins in mammals form a dynamic and complex signalling network. In this study we use mouse fibroblasts with reduced complexity. They express or only one specific integrin (ανβ3 or α5β1) or both (ανβ3α5β1). So we can study the effect of different integrins individually and together on the mechanical properties of the cell.
Due to the structural heterogeneity of the cell we have to probe the mechanical response locally. Our main method is microrheology, where mechanical properties are extracted from moving micron-sized beads. We studied both living cells and isolated intermediate filament network, also as a function of force. Preliminary results show that cells expressing both integrins have a stiffness which is in between the α5β1 (least stiff) and ανβ3 (most stiff).