Journal Article

The Consensus Mechanics of Cultured Mammalian Cells

Massiera, Gladys, Crocker, John C., Van Citters, Kathleen M., Hoffman, Brenton D.

2006

Overview

Although understanding cells' responses to mechanical stimuli is seen as increasingly important for understanding cell biology, how to best measure, interpret, and model cells' mechanical properties remains unclear. We determine the frequency-dependent shear modulus of cultured mammalian cells by using four different methods, both unique and well established. This approach clarifies the effects of cytoskeletal heterogeneity, ATP-dependent processes, and cell regional variations on the interpretation of such measurements. Our results clearly indicate two qualitatively similar, but distinct, mechanical responses, corresponding to the cortical and intracellular networks, each having an unusual, weak power-law form at low frequency. The two frequency-dependent responses we observe are remarkably similar to those reported for a variety of cultured mammalian cells measured with different techniques, suggesting it is a useful consensus description. Finally, we discuss possible physical explanations for the observed mechanical response.

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences,National Acad Sciences
• Subject: Adenosine Triphosphate - deficiency / Adenosine Triphosphate - pharmacology / Animals / Biological Sciences / Cell culture / Cell culture techniques / Cell Proliferation / Cell Shape / Cells / Cells - cytology / Cells, Cultured / Cultured cells / Cytoskeleton / Deformation / Epithelial Cells - cytology / Epithelial Cells - drug effects / Fracture mechanics / Gels / Heterogeneity / Lasers / Magnetic fields / Mammals / Mice / Rheology / Shear modulus / Stiffness / Studies