Journal
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
Volume 54, Issue -, Pages 100-111Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2014.05.003
Keywords
Cell adhesion; Adhesion signaling; Synthetic biology; Mechanobiology; Antigen presentation; Immune niche
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Funding
- European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7) [NMP4-LA-1009-229289]
- ERC Advanced Grant [294852-SynAd]
- Israel Science Foundation [1254/11]
- Max Planck Society
- Weizmann Institute of Science
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
- NanoII
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In this article, we discuss novel synthetic approaches for studying the interactions of cells with their microenvironment. Notably, critical cellular processes such as growth, differentiation, migration, and fate determination, are tightly regulated by interactions with neighboring cells, and the surrounding extracellular matrix. Given the huge complexity of natural cellular environments, and their rich molecular and physical diversity, the mission of understanding environmental signaling at a molecular-mechanistic level appears to be extremely challenging. To meet these challenges, attempts have been made in recent years to design synthetic matrices with defined chemical and physical properties, which, artificial though they may be, could reveal basic design principles underlying the physiological processes. Here, we summarize recent developments in the characterization of the chemical and physical properties of cell sensing and adhesion, as well as the design and use of engineered, micro- to nanoscale patterned and confined environments, for systematic, comprehensive modulation of the cells' environment. The power of these biomimetic surfaces to highlight environmental signaling events in cells, and in immune cells in particular, will be discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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