Review
Developmental Biology
Naoya Yamaguchi, Holger Knaut
Summary: Cell-extracellular matrix interactions are essential for cell anchoring and migration, with focal adhesions (FAs) playing a key role. However, the role of FAs in vivo is still not well understood.
Article
Cell Biology
Ioanna Antoniades, Maria Kyriakou, Anna Charalambous, Katerina Kalalidou, Andri Christodoulou, Maria Christoforou, Paris A. Skourides
Summary: The study successfully prevented the action of FAK at focal adhesions by generating a specific peptide structure, thereby effectively inhibiting the migration and invasion of tumor cells and providing a new direction for the development of anti-metastatic agents.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Courtney M. Klappenbach, Nicholas M. Negretti, Jesse Aaron, Teng-Leong Chew, Michael E. Konkel
Summary: Our study reveals that C. jejuni infection alters the size and topology of focal adhesions in epithelial cells, leading to changes in cell adhesion strength and motility. The increased phosphorylation of paxillin and altered turnover at focal adhesions may contribute to the effects on cell behavior. Additionally, inhibiting protein synthesis or using specific mutants of C. jejuni can partially reverse these effects, suggesting a potential mechanism for the observed restricted intestinal repair in infected animals.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Shan Lin, Yi-Hsin Lin, MyHang Nguyen Thi, Shih-Chuan Hsiao, Wen-Tai Chiu
Summary: The dysregulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) is associated with cancer progression. Upregulation of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) promotes cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis, while excessive Ca2+ can have a negative impact on cancer metastasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Thi My Hang Nguyen, Yi-Shyun Lai, Ying-Chi Chen, Tzu-Chien Lin, Ngoc Thang Nguyen, Wen-Tai Chiu
Summary: This study found that under hypoxic conditions, the transcription factor YAP is activated in mesenchymal triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, promoting cell migration. In addition, hypoxia causes the accumulation of focal adhesions (FAs) at the leading edge of tumor cells. However, the use of the YAP inhibitor verteporfin significantly reduces cell migration and prevents the accumulation of FAs under hypoxic conditions, but only in mesenchymal TNBC cells.
Article
Oncology
Evangelia Bouzos, Prashanth Asuri
Summary: Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and effective anti-metastatic drugs are lacking. Current screening methods for anti-metastatic compounds primarily use two-dimensional platforms, which do not fully capture the complexities of in vivo migration along matrix stiffness gradients. This study developed a sandwich culture platform to investigate the role of stiffness transitions in cell migration and could contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies against tumor cell motility and invasion.
Article
Cell Biology
Xinyi Ren, Xiaopu Guo, Zihan Liang, Renxian Guo, Shaohui Liang, Han Liu
Summary: Cell migration is a complex process that involves the coordination of various cellular components. In this study, we discovered a novel interaction between IQGAP1 and Hax1, which plays a significant role in focal adhesion turnover and directional cell migration. Our findings suggest that Hax1 acts as a link between dynamic focal adhesions and IQGAP1, facilitating efficient cell migration. Perturbation of the IQGAP1/Hax1 interaction impairs focal adhesion turnover and inhibits directional cell migration.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jason A. Estep, Lu O. Sun, Martin M. Riccomagno
Summary: Integrin Adhesion Complexes (IACs) act as links between the cytoskeleton and extracellular environment, participating in cellular motility, tissue morphogenesis, anchorage-dependent growth, and cell survival. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is a critical organizer of IAC signaling events and a genetic and therapeutic target. This study presents the design and characterization of reversible Bimolecular Complementation sensors to monitor FAK phosphorylation in living cells, providing novel means to quantify IAC signaling.
Article
Cell Biology
Elizabeth Riffo, Mario Palma, Matias Hepp, Diego Benitez-Riquelme, Vicente A. Torres, Ariel F. Castro, Roxana Pincheira
Summary: SALL2/Sall2 is a transcription factor associated with development, neuronal differentiation, and cancer. Sall2 promotes cell migration by modulating focal adhesion dynamics and transcriptionally regulating integrin beta 1 expression and FAK autophosphorylation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katja Scharinger, Sebastian Maxeiner, Carmen Schalla, Stephan Rutten, Martin Zenke, Antonio Sechi
Summary: The bimolecular complex between LSP1 and myosin1e plays a crucial role in regulating actin cytoskeleton remodeling and focal adhesion dynamics in macrophages, impacting cell migration, lamellipodia formation, and focal adhesion turnover.
Article
Cell Biology
Elizabeth Riffo, Mario Palma, Matias Hepp, Diego Benitez-Riquelme, Vicente A. Torres, Ariel F. Castro, Roxana Pincheira
Summary: SALL2/Sall2 is a transcription factor that plays a positive role in cell migration, and its deficiency can lead to decreased cell motility and altered focal adhesion dynamics. Sall2 promotes cell migration by regulating integrin beta 1 expression and FAK autophosphorylation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Hannah M. Olson, Alex V. Nechiporuk
Summary: Collective cell migration involves coordinated migratory behavior of cell cohorts. Protrusive behavior in the zebrafish posterior lateral line primordium (pLLP) is regulated by the Arp2/3 complex, leading to the formation of brush-like protrusions that aid in migration towards the overlying skin. Disruption of focal adhesion complexes surrounding the pLLP impairs migration, with Erk signaling playing a key role in the proper formation of protrusions and pLLP migration.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Tevin C. Y. Chau, Mikaela S. Keyser, Jason A. Da Silva, Elysse K. Morris, Teodor E. Yordanov, Kinga P. Duscyz, Scott Paterson, Alpha S. Yap, Benjamin M. Hogan, Anne Karine Lagendijk
Summary: This study reveals the critical role of integrin adaptor protein in vascular morphogenesis, highlighting its key functions in EC elongation and junction linearisation. It also points out the significance of FAs in regulating cell morphology and vascular permeability.
Article
Cell Biology
Carsten Baltes, Divyendu Goud Thalla, Uli Kazmaier, Franziska Lautenschlaeger
Summary: Actin plays a crucial role in maintaining cell shape and generating forces. By stabilizing actin filaments with miuraenamide A, we observed a decrease in filament dynamics and an elongation of filament length, resulting in altered cell migration speed and nuclear position.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jie Liu, Zhongzhen Liu, Keng Chen, Wei Chen, Xiyuan Fang, Meng Li, Xuening Zhou, Ning Ding, Huan Lei, Chen Guo, Tao Qian, Yilin Wang, Lin Liu, Yonglong Chen, Hui Zhao, Ying Sun, Yi Deng, Chuanyue Wu
Summary: Cell migration involves front-to-rear asymmetric focal adhesion (FA) dynamics, which facilitates trailing edge detachment and directional persistence. Here, we show that kindlin-2 is crucial for FA sliding and disassembly in migrating cells. Loss of kindlin-2 markedly reduced FA number and selectively impaired rear FA sliding and disassembly, resulting in defective rear retraction and reduced directional persistence during cell migration.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vincenza De Gregorio, Brunella Corrado, Simone Sbrescia, Sara Sibilio, Francesco Urciuolo, Paolo A. Netti, Giorgia Imparato
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Concetta Di Natale, Sara La Manna, Concetta Avitabile, Daniele Florio, Giancarlo Morelli, Paolo Antonio Netti, Daniela Marasco
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Selene De Martino, Wei Zhang, Lasse Klausen, Hsin-Ya Lou, Xiao Li, Felix S. Alfonso, Silvia Cavalli, Paolo A. Netti, Francesca Santoro, Bianxiao Cui
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Aurelio Salerno, Agustina B. Leonardi, Parisa Pedram, Ernesto Di Maio, M. Alejandra Fanovich, Paolo A. Netti
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING C-MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Selene De Martino, Silvia Cavalli, Paolo Antonio Netti
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2020)
Article
Biophysics
Concetta Di Natale, Carlo F. Natale, Daniele Florio, Paolo Antonio Netti, Giancarlo Morelli, Maurizio Ventre, Daniela Marasco
Summary: The mechanical interpretation of the factors governing cellular localization of amyloid aggregates is crucial for planning novel therapeutical interventions in neurodegenerative diseases, with modifications of cellular environment affecting peptide localization, its cytoplasmic translocation and the size of amyloid aggregates.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Review
Physics, Multidisciplinary
S. De Martino, F. Mauro, P. A. Netti
Summary: Incorporating azobenzene chromophores into polymer systems leads to unique effects under UV and visible light irradiation, such as light-driven isomerization for mechanical energy conversion and reversible shape changes. The review focuses on studying the applications of azo systems in various systems for smart biointerfaces and their potential to mimic time-varying biological systems.
RIVISTA DEL NUOVO CIMENTO
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carlo Prati, Joao Paulo Mendes Tribst, Amanda Maria de Oliveira Dal Piva, Alexandre Luiz Souto Borges, Maurizio Ventre, Fausto Zamparini, Pietro Ausiello
Summary: The stress distribution generated in the root dentine canal during mechanical rotation of five different NiTi endodontic instruments was calculated using finite element analysis. Conventional Ni-Ti instruments demonstrated higher stress magnitudes in curved areas, while heat-treated instruments with higher flexibility showed reduced stress concentration. The mechanical behavior of all rotary endodontic instruments was affected by different elastic moduli and dentine canal rigidity.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Pietro Ausiello, Joao Paulo Mendes Tribst, Maurizio Ventre, Enrico Salvati, Alessandro E. di Lauro, Massimo Martorelli, Antonio Lanzotti, David C. Watts
Summary: This study used finite element analysis to evaluate the influence of three different dental implant neck geometries under combined compressive/shear loads. The results showed that the neck configuration impacted the strain distribution and magnitude in cortical and trabecular bone tissues, with implants having 10 and 20 degree neck configurations showing lower strain values.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alessandro Gandin, Yaswanth Murugesan, Veronica Torresan, Lorenzo Ulliana, Anna Citron, Paolo Contessotto, Giusy Battilana, Tito Panciera, Maurizio Ventre, A. Paolo Netti, Lucia Nicola, Stefano Piccolo, Giovanna Brusatin
Summary: Despite significant advancements in understanding mechanotransduction, the implementation of mechanobiology assays remains challenging. Hydrogel substrates with tunable stiffness are crucial in investigating the effects of mechanical signals on cell behavior, but assessing their stiffness can be costly and complex. This study provides protocols for setting up and interpreting two simple, low-cost, and high-throughput tools for measuring hydrogel stiffness, which have been validated and compared with established techniques, offering a biologically and theoretically proven approach to mechanobiology.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felicia Roffo, Alfonso Maria Ponsiglione, Paolo Antonio Netti, Enza Torino
Summary: An innovative hybrid nanocarrier based on lipid-polymer coupling was proposed and validated for theranostics and multimodal imaging applications. The nanocarrier, prepared using Microfluidics, consists of a core-shell structure with a lipid bilayer enveloping a polymeric chitosan core, capable of co-encapsulating different compounds. The hybrid nanocarriers exhibit monodispersity, structural integrity in different environmental conditions, and high biocompatibility, making them suitable for MRI and Optical applications.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Stefania Saporito, Carlo F. Natale, Costantino Menna, Paolo Antonio Netti, Maurizio Ventre
Summary: Mechanical forces play a significant role in eukaryotic cells, affecting cell shape, proliferation, polarity, and differentiation through mechanosensing and mechanotransduction. Recent findings suggest that cell-generated forces influence the translocation of transcription factors from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which is influenced by the morphology of nuclear pore complexes. The complex patterns of nuclear envelope strains and stresses caused by cytoskeletal forces may alter the morphology of nuclear pore complexes, ultimately affecting molecular transport and cell functions.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Giorgia Imparato, Francesco Urciuolo, Claudia Mazio, Paolo A. Netti
Summary: The dynamic interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment is crucial for cancer progression. Understanding this interaction is fundamental for designing and validating new nanotherapeutic approaches. The extracellular matrix of tumors has been identified as a promising target for anticancer treatment, revolutionizing the traditional therapeutic paradigm. Advanced 3D preclinical models and microfluidic technology are necessary to accurately mimic the complex and dynamic tumor microenvironment.
Review
Oncology
Alessandra Cambi, Maurizio Ventre
Summary: Cells can sense and respond to mechanical signals in addition to biochemical signals, and the cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction plays a crucial role in tissue homeostasis and cancer. Controllable cell culturing systems mimicking the ECM enable detailed investigation of mechanosensing and mechanotransduction pathways. Understanding the cell-ECM interplay may lead to novel therapies targeting the biophysical and mechanical features of the tumor ECM to improve therapy efficacy.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Isabella Maremonti, Valeria Panzetta, David Dannhauser, Paolo Antonio Netti, Filippo Causa
Summary: The study proposes a contactless microfluidic approach that enables precise control of stress application on cell nuclei for mechanobiological research. The results show that different compression forces can lead to nuclear reinforcement or deconstruction, and affect chromatin structure and biomolecular changes in cells.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2022)