Xiao Lu^1,*, Ghassan Kassab¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 84-86, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07089

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Qin Peng¹, Shaoying Lu¹, Shu Chien¹, Yingxiao Wang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 83-83, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07385

Abstract The dramatic re-organization of chromatin during mitosis is perhaps one of the most fundamental of all cell processes [1,2]. It remains unclear how epigenetic histone modifications, despite their crucial roles in regulating chromatin architectures, are dynamically coordinated with chromatin reorganization in controlling this process. Mechanical cues have also been shown to play important roles in modulating gene expressions and cellular functions [3,4]; however, it is still unclear about the mechanical regulations of epigenetics and chromatin organization. In this study, we have developed and characterized biosensors with high sensitivity and specificity based on fluorescence resonance energy… More >

Longwei Liu¹, Praopim Limsakul¹, Shaoying (Kathy) Lu¹, Peter Yingxiao Wang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 82-82, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07360

Abstract Genetically-encoded biosensors based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET biosensors) have been widely used to dynamically track the activity of Protein Tyrosine Kinases (PTKs) in living cells because of their sensitive ratiometric fluorescence readout, high spatiotemporal resolution. However, the limitation in sensitivity, specificity, and dynamic range of these biosensors have hindered their broader applications, and there was a lack of efficient ways to optimize FRET biosensors. Here we established a rapid, systematic and universal approach for FRET biosensor optimization through directed evolution which involves generating genetic diversity and screening for protein variants with desired properties… More >

Takeo Matsumoto^1,*, Chizuru Hirooka¹, Yong Fan¹, Junfeng Wang¹, Naoki Mori¹, Eijiro Maeda¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 81-81, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07102

Abstract Aortic wall thickens in response to hypertension. Many studies reported that the wall thickening occurs to maintain the wall stress in the circumferential direction at a constant level. In case of the longitudinal direction, however, there are few studies suggesting the constancy of the stress. Such anisotropic response may be attributable to the circumferential alignment of the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the wall [1]. However, to the authors’ knowledge, there are no study discussing the underlying mechanism of the anisotropic response. It has been reported that mechanical deformation of the nuclei causes transcription upregulation… More >

Linhong Deng^1,*, Yang Jin², Mingzhi Luo¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 80-80, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07370

Abstract Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) exists within the bronchial airway wall in a form of spirally winding bundles [1]. This pattern emerges early during embryonic development and is involved in airway branching [2], providing the airway appropriate contractile capacity and resistance to circumferential tension in health or causing excessive airway narrowing in disease such as asthma. Despite its importance, the cause of ASMCs self-organization remains largely a mystery. Previously, we have demonstrated in 2D that ASMCs can sense the curvature in their microenvironment and change behaviors in differentiation, orientation and migration accordingly [3]. Here we… More >

Yingxiao Wang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 79-79, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07268

Abstract Genetically-encoded biosensors based on fluorescence proteins (FPs) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) have enabled the specific targeting and visualization of signaling events in live cells with high spatiotemporal resolutions. Single-molecule FRET biosensors have been successfully developed to monitor the activity of variety of signaling molecules, including tyrosine/serine/threonine kinases. We have a developed a general high-throughput screening (HTS) method based on directed evolution to develop sensitive and specific FRET biosensors. We have first applied a yeast library and screened for a mutated binding domain for phosphorylated peptide sequence. When this mutated binding domain and the… More >

Lili Dong¹, Yang Song^1,*, Li Yang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 78-78, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07130

Abstract It has been widely recognized that stem cells possess the potential of osteogenic differentiation, which greatly contribute to bone repair. Recently, accumulating evidences have indicated that mechanical cues are required for bone repair ^[1,2]. However, how local and recruited stem cells in the bone architecture receive the mechanical signals is poorly understood ^[3,4]. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that macrophages potentially transduce the mechanical signals for stem cell osteogenic lineage. This demonstration has been carried out through a co-culture system to investigate the effect of macrophages which subjected to cyclic stretch on the… More >

Runze Zhao¹, Tingting Xia¹, Mengyue Wang¹, Fan Feng¹, Wanqian Liu^1,*, Li Yang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 77-77, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07155

Abstract This study was focus on the exploring the therapeutic function of lysyl oxidase (LOX) in rat nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD). To do this, a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat caudal spine degeneration model was established by puncturing the Co5-6 disc. NP cells apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degeneration in IVDD were evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) and immunofluorescence. Then, the therapeutic effect of LOX on IVDD was evaluated by histological staining. In vitro, the regulator effect of LOX on degenerate rat NP cell was explored. ECM… More >

Sung Yun Hann¹, Haitao Cui¹, Timothy Esworthy¹, Xuan Zhou¹, Se-jun Lee¹, Lijie Grace Zhang^1,2,3,4,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 76-76, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07314

Abstract The vascularization is the most significant to achieve efficient supplement of the nutrients and oxygen for tissue and organ regeneration. However, there is a remaining challenge to fabricate a durable and functional vascularized tissue. Currently, 3D printing has emerged as a promising technique to fabricate vascular networks in many studies due to its superior controllability, reproducibility, and repeatability. In the current study, the main objective is to utilize an advanced dual 3D printing technique including stereolithography (SLA) and fused deposition modeling (FDM) to create a biomimetic bone tissue with perfusable vascular networks. Specifically, the vascularized… More >

Hao Sun¹, Timothy Eswothy¹, Kerlin P. Robert¹, Jiaoyan Li², L. G. Zhang¹, James D. Lee^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 75-75, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07090

Abstract Most biological phenomena commonly involve with mechanics. In this work, we proposed an innovative model that tumor is considered as a pyroelastic medium consisting of two parts: solid and fluid. The variation of solid part depends on whether the drug has been effectively delivered to the tumor site. We derived the governing equations of the tumor, in which large deformation is incorporated. Meanwhile, the finite element equations for coupled displacement field and pressure field are formulated. We proposed two sets of porosity and growth tensor. In both cases the continuum theory and FEM are accompanied More >