Physics of adherent cells

TL;DR

This paper reviews how adherent cells generate and transmit mechanical forces at the cell-material interface, influencing cell behavior and environmental sensing, through a physics-based perspective.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical soft matter physics framework to understand the role of forces in cell adhesion, integrating recent experimental findings.

Findings

Cells generate pulling and pushing forces at adhesion sites.

Forces influence cell sensing of environmental stiffness.

Focal adhesions are dynamic structures transmitting forces.

Abstract

One of the most unique physical features of cell adhesion to external surfaces is the active generation of mechanical force at the cell-material interface. This includes pulling forces generated by contractile polymer bundles and networks, and pushing forces generated by the polymerization of polymer networks. These forces are transmitted to the substrate mainly by focal adhesions, which are large, yet highly dynamic adhesion clusters. Tissue cells use these forces to sense the physical properties of their environment and to communicate with each other. The effect of forces is intricately linked to the material properties of cells and their physical environment. Here a review is given of recent progress in our understanding of the role of forces in cell adhesion from the viewpoint of theoretical soft matter physics and in close relation to the relevant experiments.