School of Mechanical Engineering Seminar
Wednesday 27.12.2023 at 14:00

ZOO SEMINAR

Evaluating Cell-Cell Mechanical Communication Interaction  Under External Load

avior exsol

M.Sc. student of Dr. Ayelet Lesman

School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

The dynamic interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is pivotal in various biological processes. Cells exert contractile forces that are transmitted to the fibrous ECM, enabling mechanical interaction between neighboring cells, affecting cell fate decision and tissue functions. This study employs a finite element (FE) model to examine how external stretch, a common mechanical condition in tissues, impacts the transmission of mechanical signals between contractile cells within an ECM-like fibrous environment. We investigate the interplay of factors including the magnitude of external stretch, boundary conditions, and cell-cell axis relative to the stretch direction. By quantifying parameters such as fiber alignment and stress distribution within the fibrous region between cells, we reveal insights into the ability of cells to mechanically interact through the matrix fibers. Our findings indicate that external stretch, boundary conditions, and cell configuration influence the mechanical coupling of contractile cells. Specifically, we observe that external stretch contributes to enhanced cell-cell coupling. We identify a transition point in the magnitude of external stretch, beyond which strong effects on cell-cell interaction become prominent. Additionally, we demonstrate that the angle between the cell-cell axis and the stretch direction plays a significant role in mediating the mechanical signal transmission. This study advances our understanding of how external stretch modifies long-range cell-cell interactions within the ECM, providing insights into cellular communication mechanisms underlying tissue dynamics