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Cellular Traction Stresses in Disease Progression

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Abstract

Most cells reside in tissues surrounded by a fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM). Within tissues, cells are capable of generating contractility and exerting traction forces against the ECM that enable cells to adhere, to maintain or change shape, and to aid in migration. Traction forces also enable cells to probe, and respond to, the stiffness of the local tissue microenvironment and to contribute to ECM remodeling that maintains tissue homeostasis. Interestingly, prominent disease states like atherosclerosis and cancer are characterized in part by changes in the mechanical microenvironment of tissues—notably an increase in ECM stiffness. While it is clear that cells are capable of sensing and responding to ECM stiffness, the role of traction stresses in mediating dysfunction in disease progression is not well understood.

© 2012 Optical Society of America

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