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PUBLICATIONS

Interplay of actin nematodynamics and anisotropic tension controls endothelial mechanics

Published

Author(s)

Claire Dessalles, Nicolas Cuny, Arthur Boutillon, Paul Salipante, Avin Babataheri, Abdul Barakat, Guillaume Salbreux

Abstract

Blood vessels expand and contract actively, while continuously experiencing dynamic external stresses from the blood flow. The mechanical response of the vessel wall is that of a composite material: its mechanical properties depend on its cellular components, which change dynamically as cells respond to external stress. Mapping the relationship between these underlying cellular processes and emergent tissue mechanics is an on-going challenge, in particular in endothelial cells. Here we assess the mechanics and cellular dynamics of an endothelial tube using a microstretcher that mimics the native environment of blood vessels. Characterization of the instantaneous monolayer elasticity reveals a strain-stiffening, actin-dependent and substrate-responsive behaviour. After a physiological pressure increase, the tissue displays a fluid-like expansion, with reorientation of cell shape and actin fibres. We introduce a mechanical model that considers the actin fibres as a network in the nematic phase and couples their dynamics with active and elastic fibre tension. The model accurately describes the response to pressure of endothelial tubes.
Citation
Nature Physics
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02847-3
Local Download

Keywords

endothelial cells, organ-on-chip. tissue mechanics, actin, active nematics
Mechanical properties, Materials characterization and Biomaterials

Citation

Dessalles, C. , Cuny, N. , Boutillon, A. , Salipante, P. , Babataheri, A. , Barakat, A. and Salbreux, G. (2025), Interplay of actin nematodynamics and anisotropic tension controls endothelial mechanics, Nature Physics, [online], https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-025-02847-3, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=957693 (Accessed April 26, 2025)

Issues

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Created April 18, 2025, Updated April 22, 2025