Sufang Wang^1,2, Wenjuan Zhao^1,2, Guolin Shi^1,2, Nu Zhang^1,2, Chen Zhang^1,2, Hui Yang^1,2,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 100-100, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07112

Abstract Long-term space flight will be a major mission for International Space Administration. However, it has been shown that exposure to space flight result in immune system dysfunction. Therefore, understand the mechanism of immune response under microgravity condition is a key topic. Macrophage is one of the most important immune cells in human body, playing key roles in both innate and adaptive immune systems. In this research, we used mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) and collected samples at short-term (8 hour), mediate-term (24 hour) and long-term (48 hour) microgravity treatment. We measured cell proliferation, phagocytosis function and used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to obtain… More >

Yuhsuan Wang^1,2, Yuwei Guo^1,2, Lisha Zheng^1,2,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 99-99, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.06995

Abstract Many studies have shown that cell shape effects cell chromatin aggregation, gene expression, protein synthesis, cell growth, apoptosis, and cytoskeletal rearrangement [1, 2]. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are capable of osteogenic, dentinogenic, chondrogenic, and neurogenic differentiation. They are regarded as a promising candidate for tissue regeneration. How the cell shape regulates their cell behavior is still unknown. We used micropatterning technology to design single cell patterns in a 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16 length-width ratio of rectangles with the same area. The results indicated that cell shape rearranged the cytoskeleton of DPSCs. The nuclear shape also affected by different… More >

Jian Shi^1,*, Baptiste Rode¹, David Beech¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 98-98, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.06939

Abstract The sensing of blood flow-evoked shear stress is critical in vascular development and maintenance of a healthy vasculature in the adult [1,2]. The identity of molecules which sense and transduce this force into appropriate vascular anatomy and function is therefore keenly sought. A central question is whether there is a force sensor protein (“receptor”) which directly detects the force, acting either alone or in complex with other proteins. Piezo1 channels are Ca²⁺-permeable non-selective cationic channels which are activated by membrane stretch. These channels are important for shear stress-sensing and vascular function in embryonic and adult mice. Through whole-cell perforated patch… More >

Yunfeng Chen^1,2,3,†,*, Jiexi Liao^4,†, Zhou Yuan¹, Kaitao Li⁴, Baoyu Liu⁴, Lining Arnold Ju^4,5,6, Cheng Zhu^1,2,4,5,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 97-97, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07123

Abstract Force-mediated molecular binding initiates numerous cellular activities such as cell adhesion, migration, and activation. Dynamic force spectroscopy (DFS) is widely used to examine molecular binding and cell mechano-signaling [1]. The rate of dissociation, off-rate, is an important attribute of molecular binding that reflects bond stability. Extensive DFS works have demonstrated that off-rates are a function of force magnitude, yielding signature bond behaviors like “catch bond” [2]. However, as a controversial topic of the field, different DFS assays, i.e., force-clamp and force-ramp assays, often yielded distinctive "off-rate vs. force" relations from the same molecular system [3]. Such discrepancies cast doubt on… More >

Lining Arnold Ju^{1,2,3,4,6,†,*}, James McFadyen^4,†, Saheb Al-Daher^4,†, Imala Alwis^1,2,3,4, Yunfeng Chen^6,7,8, Mark E. Cooper⁹, Cheng Zhu^1,2,3,5,6,7, Shaun P. Jackson^1,2,3,4,8

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 96-96, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.06979

Abstract Thrombotic diseases where platelets form clots and obstruct blood vessels remains the leading cause of death and disability in the world. Despite intense investigation over the last 40 years into the discovery and development of more effective drugs, less than 1 in 6 patients taking anti-thrombotic therapies avoid a fatal event. This situation is likely to worsen in younger generations due to the rapidly growing incidence of diabetes, which makes people more prone to thrombosis and resistant to existing anti-thrombotics with unknown reasons.
To investigate this, I have developed the ‘Biomembrane Force Probe’ as the first-of-its-kind. This nanotool represents… More >

Pingping Ma¹, Wanqian Liu^1,*, Li Yang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 95-95, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07363

Abstract Globally, consumption of sodium (5.8 g per day) was far above the optimal levels (2.3 g per day). High intake of sodium was the leading dietary risk factor for deaths, which caused by cardiovascular disease [1]. Nevertheless, how high-salt intake leads to the occurrence of many cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis is still not very clear. Dmitrieva has reported that elevated sodium concentration promoted thrombogenesis by activating the signal pathway of NFAT5 (nuclear factor of activated T cells 5), a transcription factor which orchestrates cellular defense against osmotic stress [2]. Inflammatory is accompanied with the entire development process of atherosclerosis.… More >

Lucy Wanjiru Njunge¹, Andreanne Poppy Estania¹, Li Yang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 94-94, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07116

Abstract Mechanical stimulation contributes to the development, homeostasis, integrity and functionality of the articular cartilage by modulating several cellular activities including production and remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM), chondrocyte differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. On the other hand, abnormal mechanical strain play a critical role in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis by inducing ECM degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, deleterious mechanical loading can also stimulates the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β) that promote to cartilage degradation, chondrocyte hypertrophy and inflammation [1]. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK), a member of the hnRNP family, is implicated in the expression, stabilization and organization… More >

Yan Gao¹, Chunli Wang¹, Li Yang^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 93-93, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07322

Abstract At present, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage repair is still a huge challenge. Our previous studies indicated that the Lysyl oxidase (LOX) were significantly reduced in injurious ACL fibroblasts, which is the major reason for its poor healing ability. The main purpose of our study was to detected the potential of LOX to act as an anabolic agent in injured ACL. The effect of LOX on the ACL at a concentration of 20ng/mL was investigated. The molecular mechanisms and signaling pathway were elucidated by RNA-sequencing, q-PCR and western blotting. For the in vivo study, the LOX was injected into the… More >

Yang Song¹, Jennifer Soto¹, Song Li^1,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 92-92, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07345

Abstract Cell reprograming technologies have broad applications in cell therapy, disease modeling and drug screening. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced neuronal (iN) cells has been achieved via the forced expression of three transcription factors: Ascl1, Brn2 and Myt1l. Accumulative evidence suggests that biophysical factors in the microenvironment can regulate the epigenetic state and cell reprogramming. However, whether intracellular mechanical properties regulate cell reprogramming remains unknown. Here, we show for the first time, that the mechanical property of cells is modulated during the early phase of reprogramming as determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high-throughput quantitative deformability cytometry (q-DC). We… More >

Tin-Kan Hung^1,*, Ruei-Hung Kuo², Cheng-Hsien Chiang³

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 90-91, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07854

Abstract Pulsating flow in a human aortic arch is studied from its kinematic and dynamic characteristics of transient tubular boundary layer. The results can only be obtained by a 3D fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis for the rapidly accelerated and decelerated systolic flow. The flow is based on a prescribed inlet velocity, V_O(t), which can be expressed as the instantaneous Reynolds number, Re(t) = ρDV_O/μ in which D is the tube diameter, ρ the blood density and μ the dynamic viscosity. Computation of pressure field requires a reference pressure at the downstream end section. The pressure is based on the pulse in… More >