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Article Dans Une Revue Biophysical Journal Année : 2005

Is the mechanical activity of epithelial cells controlled by deformations or forces ?

Axel Buguin
Pascal Silberzan

Résumé

The traction forces developed by cells depend strongly on the substrate rigidity. In this letter, we characterize quantitatively this effect on MDCK epithelial cells by using a microfabricated force sensor consisting in a high-density array of soft pillars whose stiffness can be tailored by changing their height and radius to obtain a rigidity range from 2 nN/μm up to 130 nN/μm. We find that the forces exerted by the cells are proportional to the spring constant of the pillars meaning that, on average, the cells deform the pillars by the same amount whatever their rigidity. The relevant parameter may thus be a deformation rather than a force. These dynamic observations are correlated with the reinforcement of focal adhesions that increases with the substrate rigidity.

Dates et versions

hal-00188263 , version 1 (16-11-2007)

Licence

Paternité - Pas d'utilisation commerciale - Pas de modification

Identifiants

Citer

Alexandre Saez, Axel Buguin, Pascal Silberzan, Benoit Ladoux. Is the mechanical activity of epithelial cells controlled by deformations or forces ?. Biophysical Journal, 2005, 89 (6), pp.L52-L54. ⟨10.1529/biophysj.105.071217⟩. ⟨hal-00188263⟩
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