Volume 18, Issue 2 2104328
Research Article

Topographic Cues Guiding Cell Polarization via Distinct Cellular Mechanosensing Pathways

Wei Liu

Wei Liu

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

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Qian Sun

Qian Sun

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

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Zi-Li Zheng

Zi-Li Zheng

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

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Ya-Ting Gao

Ya-Ting Gao

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

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Guan-Yin Zhu

Guan-Yin Zhu

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 China

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Qiang Wei

Corresponding Author

Qiang Wei

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Jia-Zhuang Xu

Corresponding Author

Jia-Zhuang Xu

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

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Zhong-Ming Li

Zhong-Ming Li

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

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Chang-Sheng Zhao

Chang-Sheng Zhao

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials and Engineering, College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065 China

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First published: 05 November 2021
Citations: 34

Abstract

Cell polarization exists in a variety of tissues to regulate cell behaviors and functions. Space constraint (spatially limiting cell extension) and adhesion induction (guiding adhesome growth) are two main ways to induce cell polarization according to the microenvironment topographies. However, the mechanism of cell polarization induced by these two ways and the downstream effects on cell functions are yet to be understood. Here, space constraint and adhesion induction guiding cell polarization are achieved by substrate groove arrays in micro and nano size, respectively. Although the morphology of polarized cells is similar on both structures, the signaling pathways to induce the cell polarization and the downstream functions are distinctly different. The adhesion induction (nano-groove) leads to the formation of focal adhesions and activates the RhoA/ROCK pathway to enhance the myosin-based intracellular force, while the space constraint (micro-groove) only activates the formation of pseudopodia. The enhanced intracellular force caused by adhesion induction inhibits the chromatin condensation, which promotes the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells. This study presents an overview of cell polarization and mechanosensing at biointerface to aid in the design of novel biomaterials.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

Research data are not shared.

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