INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF STRESS FIBER CONTRACTILITY AND NUCLEUS GEOMETRY IN THE RESPONSE OF CELLS TO MICROPIPETTE ASPIRATION

摘要

Remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton plays a critical role in the response of cells to mechanical stimuli. Previous studies have investigated the response of cells to micropipette aspiration using passive visco-elastic models for the cell cytoplasm [1-3]. In the present study endothelial cells are aspirated into a pipette under a constant applied pressure. Experiments are simulated using an active bio-chemo-mechanical model to investigate the role of the actin cytoskeleton in micropipette aspiration [4].