Disrupted stiffness ratio alters nuclear mechanosensing

Brandon K. Walther, Adam P. Sears, Anahita Mojiri, Reza Avazmohammadi, Jianhua Gu, Olga V. Chumakova, Navaneeth Krishna Rajeeva Pandian, Abishai Dominic, Jean Louis Martiel, Saami K. Yazdani, John P. Cooke, Jacques Ohayon, Roderic I. Pettigrew

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The ability of endothelial cells to sense and respond to dynamic changes in blood flow is critical for vascular homeostasis and cardiovascular health. The mechanical and geometric properties of the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments affect mechanotransduction. We hypothesized that alterations to these parameters have resulting mechanosensory consequences. Using atomic force microscopy and mathematical modeling, we assessed how the nuclear and cytoplasmic compartment stiffnesses modulate shear stress transfer to the nucleus within aging endothelial cells. Our computational studies revealed that the critical parameter controlling shear transfer is not the individual mechanics of these compartments, but the stiffness ratio between them. Replicatively aged cells had a reduced stiffness ratio, attenuating shear transfer, while the ratio was not altered in a genetic model of accelerated aging. We provide a theoretical framework suggesting that dysregulation of the shear stress response can be uniquely imparted by relative mechanical changes in subcellular compartments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3608-3630
Number of pages23
JournalMatter
Volume6
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 4 2023

Keywords

  • MAP3: Understanding
  • biomechanics
  • biophysics
  • endothelial cells
  • mechanobiology
  • shear stress
  • soft matter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Materials Science(all)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Disrupted stiffness ratio alters nuclear mechanosensing'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this