Cell-ECM traction force modulates endogenous tension at cell–cell contacts
Open accessAbstract
Cells in tissues are mechanically coupled both to the ECM and neighboring cells, but the coordination and interdependency of forces sustained at cell-ECM and cell–cell adhesions are unknown. In this paper, we demonstrate that the endogenous force sustained at the cell–cell contact between a pair of epithelial cells is approximately 100 nN, directed perpendicular to the cell–cell interface and concentrated at the contact edges. This force is stably maintained over time despite significant fluctuations in cell–cell contact length and cell morphology. A direct relationship between the total cellular traction force on the ECM and the endogenous cell–cell force exists, indicating that the cell–cell tension is a constant fraction of the cell-ECM traction. Thus, modulation of ECM properties that impact cell-ECM traction alters cell–cell tension. Finally, we show in a minimal model of a tissue that all cells experience similar forces from the surrounding microenvironment, despite differences in the extent of cell-ECM and cell–cell adhesion. This interdependence of cell–cell and cell-ECM forces has significant implications for the maintenance of the mechanical integrity of tissues, mechanotransduction, and tumor mechanobiology.
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Traction force microscopy on doublets reveals a 3-fold reduction in tension across intercellular contacts in E-cadherin−/− keratinocytes compared to control after 24 h in high Ca2+.
“Importantly, TFM on doublets of cells22 revealed a 3-fold reduction in tension across intercellular contacts in E-cadherin−/− keratinocytes compared to control after 24 h in high Ca2+ (Fig. 5d).”
From E-cadherin integrates mechanotransduction and EGFR signaling to control junctional tissue polarization and tight junction positioning (2017) · cites this paper as [22]
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- Authors
- Maruthamuthu, V., Sabass, B., Schwarz, U. S., & Gardel, M. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- University of Stuttgart (DE)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Gardel, Margaret L.
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2011-03-07
- Volume
- 108
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 4708-4713
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC3064395
- OpenAlex
- W1967489328
- Cited by
- 520
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 46 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 48 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 19.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- American Heart Association
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- National Institutes of Health (DP1OD003354)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM104032)
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (DP10D00354)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Immunology and Allergy › Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Keywords
- cell-cell adhesion, cell-cell contact, epithelial cells, tissue mechanics, mechanical coupling, extracellular matrix stiffness, mechanotransduction
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cell Adhesion, Cell Communication, Cell Line, Dogs, Epithelial Cells, Extracellular Matrix, Neoplasms, Mechanotransduction, Cellular
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