Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling

Here, we report on the first part of a two-part experimental series to elucidate spatiotemporal cytoskeletal remodeling, which underpins the evolution of stem cell shape and fate, and the emergence of tissue structure and function. In Part I of these studies, we first develop protocols to stabilize...

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Main Authors: Vina D. L. Putra, Kristopher A. Kilian, Melissa L. Knothe Tate
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-03-01
Series:APL Bioengineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0231273
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author Vina D. L. Putra
Kristopher A. Kilian
Melissa L. Knothe Tate
author_facet Vina D. L. Putra
Kristopher A. Kilian
Melissa L. Knothe Tate
author_sort Vina D. L. Putra
collection DOAJ
description Here, we report on the first part of a two-part experimental series to elucidate spatiotemporal cytoskeletal remodeling, which underpins the evolution of stem cell shape and fate, and the emergence of tissue structure and function. In Part I of these studies, we first develop protocols to stabilize microtubules exogenously using paclitaxel (PAX) in a standardized model murine embryonic stem cell line (C3H/10T1/2) to maximize comparability with previously published studies. We then probe native and microtubule-stabilized stem cells' capacity to adapt to volume changing stresses effected by seeding at increasing cell densities, which emulates local compression and tissue template formation during development. Within the concentration range of 1–100 nM, microtubule-stabilized stem cells maintain viability and reduce proliferation. PAX stabilization of microtubules is associated with increased cell volume as well as flattening of the cell and nucleus. Compared to control cells, microtubule-stabilized cells exhibit thick, bundled microtubules and highly aligned, thicker and longer F-actin fibers, corresponding to an increase in the Young's modulus of the cell. Both F-actin and microtubule concentration increase with increasing PAX concentration, whereby the increase in F-actin is more prominent in the basal region of the cell. The corresponding increase in microtubule is observed more globally across the apical and basal region of the cell. Seeding at increasing target densities induces local compression on cells. This increase in local compression modulates cell volume and concomitant increases in F-actin and microtubule concentration to a greater degree than microtubule stabilization via PAX. Cells seeded at high density exhibit higher bulk modulus than corresponding cells seeded at low density. These data demonstrate the capacity of stem cells to adapt to an interplay of mechanical and chemical cues, i.e., respective compression and exogenous microtubule stabilization; the resulting cytoskeletal remodeling manifests as evolution of mechanical properties relevant to development of multicellular tissue constructs.
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spelling doaj-art-62b4772f0cfa4db89139bab546d44e1b2025-08-20T03:06:17ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Bioengineering2473-28772025-03-0191016102016102-1710.1063/5.0231273Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodelingVina D. L. Putra0Kristopher A. Kilian1Melissa L. Knothe Tate2 School of Chemistry and School of Materials Science & Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia School of Chemistry and School of Materials Science & Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Blue Mountains World Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute (bmwi3), Blue Mountains, New South Wales, AustraliaHere, we report on the first part of a two-part experimental series to elucidate spatiotemporal cytoskeletal remodeling, which underpins the evolution of stem cell shape and fate, and the emergence of tissue structure and function. In Part I of these studies, we first develop protocols to stabilize microtubules exogenously using paclitaxel (PAX) in a standardized model murine embryonic stem cell line (C3H/10T1/2) to maximize comparability with previously published studies. We then probe native and microtubule-stabilized stem cells' capacity to adapt to volume changing stresses effected by seeding at increasing cell densities, which emulates local compression and tissue template formation during development. Within the concentration range of 1–100 nM, microtubule-stabilized stem cells maintain viability and reduce proliferation. PAX stabilization of microtubules is associated with increased cell volume as well as flattening of the cell and nucleus. Compared to control cells, microtubule-stabilized cells exhibit thick, bundled microtubules and highly aligned, thicker and longer F-actin fibers, corresponding to an increase in the Young's modulus of the cell. Both F-actin and microtubule concentration increase with increasing PAX concentration, whereby the increase in F-actin is more prominent in the basal region of the cell. The corresponding increase in microtubule is observed more globally across the apical and basal region of the cell. Seeding at increasing target densities induces local compression on cells. This increase in local compression modulates cell volume and concomitant increases in F-actin and microtubule concentration to a greater degree than microtubule stabilization via PAX. Cells seeded at high density exhibit higher bulk modulus than corresponding cells seeded at low density. These data demonstrate the capacity of stem cells to adapt to an interplay of mechanical and chemical cues, i.e., respective compression and exogenous microtubule stabilization; the resulting cytoskeletal remodeling manifests as evolution of mechanical properties relevant to development of multicellular tissue constructs.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0231273
spellingShingle Vina D. L. Putra
Kristopher A. Kilian
Melissa L. Knothe Tate
Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling
APL Bioengineering
title Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling
title_full Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling
title_fullStr Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling
title_full_unstemmed Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling
title_short Stem cell mechanoadaptation. I. Effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling
title_sort stem cell mechanoadaptation i effect of microtubule stabilization and volume changing stresses on cytoskeletal remodeling
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0231273
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AT kristopherakilian stemcellmechanoadaptationieffectofmicrotubulestabilizationandvolumechangingstressesoncytoskeletalremodeling
AT melissalknothetate stemcellmechanoadaptationieffectofmicrotubulestabilizationandvolumechangingstressesoncytoskeletalremodeling