Mechanics regulates fate decisions of human embryonic stem cells

Yubing Sun, Luis G. Villa-Diaz, Raymond H.W. Lam, Weiqiang Chen, Paul H. Krebsbach, Jianping Fu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Research on human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has attracted much attention given their great potential for tissue regenerative therapy and fundamental developmental biology studies. Yet, there is still limited understanding of how mechanical signals in the local cellular microenvironment of hESCs regulate their fate decisions. Here, we applied a microfabricated micromechanical platform to investigate the mechanoresponsive behaviors of hESCs. We demonstrated that hESCs are mechanosensitive, and they could increase their cytoskeleton contractility with matrix rigidity. Furthermore, rigid substrates supported maintenance of pluripotency of hESCs. Matrix mechanics-mediated cytoskeleton contractility might be functionally correlated with E-cadherin expressions in cell-cell contacts and thus involved in fate decisions of hESCs. Our results highlighted the important functional link between matrix rigidity, cellular mechanics, and pluripotency of hESCs and provided a novel approach to characterize and understand mechanotransduction and its involvement in hESC function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere37178
JournalPloS one
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 16 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mechanics regulates fate decisions of human embryonic stem cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this