Mechanical strain increases cell stiffness through cytoskeletal filament reorganization

Paul G. Smith, Linhong Deng, Jeffrey J. Fredberg, Geoffrey N. Maksym

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that cytoskeletal reorganization induced by cyclic strain increases cytoskeletal stiffness (G′). G′ was measured by optical magnetic twisting cytometry in control cells and cells that had received mechanical strain for 10-12 days. G′ was measured before and after both contractile and relaxant agonists, and in the strained cells both parallel (Para) and perpendicular (Perp) to the aligned cytoskeleton. Before activation, G′ Para was 24 ± 5% (± SE) greater compared with Perp (P < 0.05), and 35% ± 6 greater compared with control (Cont, P < 0.01). The difference between strained and control cells was enhanced by KCl, increasing G′ 171 ± 7% Para compared with 125 ± 6% Perp and 129 ± 8% Cont (P < 10-5 both cases). The decrease in G′ from baseline due to relaxant agonists isoproterenol and dibutyryl cAMP was similar in all groups. Long-term oscillatory loading of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells caused stiffness to increase and become anisotropic. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that cytoskeletal reorganization can enhance ASM stiffness and contractility. They imply, furthermore, that oscillatory loading of ASM may contribute to airway narrowing and failure of airway dilation in asthma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L456-L463
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Volume285
Issue number2 29-2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2003

Keywords

  • Airway smooth muscle cell
  • Anisotropy
  • Optical magnetic twisting cytometry
  • Plasticity
  • Smooth muscle contraction

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