Influence of microfluidic shear on keratin networks in living cells

Intermediate filaments play a key role in cell mechanics, providing cells with compliance to small deformations and reinforcing them when large forces are applied. Here, we present a study of networks of keratin intermediate filaments in living cells under the influence of external forces. We expose...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jens-Friedrich Nolting, Sarah Köster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2013-01-01
Series:New Journal of Physics
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/15/4/045025
Description
Summary:Intermediate filaments play a key role in cell mechanics, providing cells with compliance to small deformations and reinforcing them when large forces are applied. Here, we present a study of networks of keratin intermediate filaments in living cells under the influence of external forces. We expose the cells to controlled shear forces applied by microflow and investigate the response of the keratin network in situ . Our results show that bundle dynamics are reduced upon the application of shear flow. It is likely that cytoskeletal cross-talk is involved in this shear stress response via actin–keratin coupling.
ISSN:1367-2630