Di Pan^*, Yuhua Song^∗,†

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.8, No.3, pp. 233-252, 2011, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2011.008.233

Abstract Cytoskeletal restraints affect force-regulated integrin function in cell adhesion. However, the structural and molecular basis underlying the effect of cytoskeletal restraints on b1 integrin binding to fibronectin is still largely unknown. In this study, we used steered molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the changes in glycosylated b1 integrin-fibronectin binding and in conformation and structure of the glycosylated b1 I-like domain-FN-III9 - 10 complex caused by altered restraints applied to b1 I-like domain. The results revealed that imposition of the increased constraints on b1 integrin increased resistance to force-induced dissociation of the b1 I-like domain-fibronectin complex.… More >

Ning Wang^*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.7, No.1, pp. 33-44, 2010, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2010.007.033

Abstract Professor Y.C. Fung has shown that living tissues remodel extensively in response to mechanical forces such as blood pressure variations. At the cellular level, those mechanical perturbations must be perceived by individual cells. However, mechanisms of mechanochemical transduction in living cells remain a central challenge to cell biologists. Contrary to predictions by existing models of living cells, we reported previously that a local stress, applied via integrin receptors, is propagated to remote sites in the cytoplasm and is concentrated at discrete foci. Here we report that these foci of strains and stresses in the cytoplasm More >

Federico Bussolino, Francesca Caccavari, Donatella Valdembri, Guido Serini

European Cytokine Network, Vol.20, No.4, pp. 191-196, 2009, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0168

Abstract Acquisition of new genes encoding for extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and their cognate integrin adhesive receptors, as well as secreted pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, proved to be essential for the development of functional vascular networks in the vertebrate embryo. There is now clear evidence that post-natal, pathological tissue neo-vascularization is crucial for cancer growth and therapy as well. Integrins are major ECM receptors that can exist in different functional states with respect to their affinity for ECM pro-teins. Regulation of integrin activation is crucial for their biological functions. In the embryo, the development of a More >

Evangelia Papadimitriou, Constantinos Mikelis, Evgenia Lampropoulou, Marina Koutsioumpa, Katerina Theochari, Sotiria Tsirmoula, Christina Theodoropoulou, Margarita Lamprou, Evanthia Sfaelou, Dionyssios Vourtsis, Panagiotis Boudouris

European Cytokine Network, Vol.20, No.4, pp. 180-190, 2009, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2009.0172

Abstract Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a heparin-binding growth factor with diverse biological activities, the moststudied of these being those related to the nervous system, tumor growth and angiogenesis. Although interest inthe involvement of PTN in tumor growth is increasing, many questions remain unanswered, particularly con-cerning the receptors and the signaling pathways involved. In this review, we briefly introduce PTN, and sum-marize data on its involvement in tumor growth and angiogenesis, and on what is known to date concerningthe receptors and pathways involved. More >

J. B. Litzenberger^{1, 2}, P. Tummala² , C. R. Jacobs^{1, 2}

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 219-220, 2006, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2006.003.219

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Meghan H. Hoskins^*, Cheng Dong^∗,†

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.3, No.2, pp. 79-88, 2006, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2006.003.079

Abstract It has been determined previously that polymorphonuclear leukocytes, or PMNs, can facilitate melanoma cell extravasation through the endothelium under shear conditions [1,2]. The interactions between melanoma cells and PMNs are mediated by the β₂-integrins expressed by PMNs and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) expressed on melanoma cells. In this study, the kinetics of these interactions was studied using a parallel plate flow chamber. The dissociation rates were calculated under low force conditions for ICAM-1 interactions with both β₂-integrins, LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) and Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18), together and separately by using functional blocking antibodies on PMNs. The kinetics of PMNs More >

D.E. Ingber¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.1, No.1, pp. 53-68, 2004, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2004.001.053

Abstract This article is a summary of a lecture presented at a symposium on "Mechanics and Chemistry of Biosystems'' in honor of Professor Y.C. Fung that convened at the University of California, Irvine in February 2004. The article reviews work from our laboratory that focuses on the mechanism by which mechanical and chemical signals interplay to control how individual cells decide whether to grow, differentiate, move, or die, and thereby promote pattern formation during tissue morphogenesis. Pursuit of this challenge has required development and application of new microtechnologies, theoretical formulations, computational models and bioinformatics tools. These… More >