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Current Opinion in Biotechnology Dec 2020Immune cells can sense and respond to biophysical cues - from dynamic forces to spatial features - during their development, activation, differentiation and expansion.... (Review)
Review
Immune cells can sense and respond to biophysical cues - from dynamic forces to spatial features - during their development, activation, differentiation and expansion. These biophysical signals regulate a variety of immune cell functions such as leukocyte extravasation, macrophage polarization, T cell selection and T cell activation. Recent studies have advanced our understanding on immune responses to biophysical cues and the underlying mechanisms of mechanotransduction, which provides rational basis for the design and development of immune-modulatory therapeutics. This review discusses the recent progress in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction of immune cells, particularly monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes, and features new biomaterial designs and biomedical devices that translate these findings into biomedical applications.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Biophysics; Cell Differentiation; Macrophages; Mechanotransduction, Cellular
PubMed: 33007634
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.09.004 -
Biophysical Journal May 2014
Topics: Biophysics; Computers; Editorial Policies; Periodicals as Topic
PubMed: 24806940
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.04.002 -
Journal of Neuroscience Methods Oct 2020The biophysical modeling efforts in diffusion MRI have grown considerably over the past 25 years. In this review, we dwell on the various challenges along the journey of... (Review)
Review
The biophysical modeling efforts in diffusion MRI have grown considerably over the past 25 years. In this review, we dwell on the various challenges along the journey of bringing a biophysical model from initial design to clinical implementation, identifying both hurdles that have been already overcome and outstanding issues. First, we describe the critical initial task of selecting which features of tissue microstructure can be estimated using a model and which acquisition protocol needs to be implemented to make the estimation possible. The model performance should necessarily be tested in realistic numerical simulations and in experimental data - adapting the fitting strategy accordingly, and parameter estimates should be validated against complementary techniques, when/if available. Secondly, the model performance and validity should be explored in pathological conditions, and, if appropriate, dedicated models for pathology should be developed. We build on examples from tumors, ischemia and demyelinating diseases. We then discuss the challenges associated with clinical translation and added value. Finally, we single out four major unresolved challenges that are related to: the availability of a microstructural ground truth, the validation of model parameters which cannot be accessed with complementary techniques, the development of a generalized standard model for any brain region and pathology, and the seamless communication between different parties involved in the development and application of biophysical models of diffusion.
Topics: Biophysics; Brain; Diffusion; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 32692999
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108861 -
SLAS Discovery : Advancing Life... Sep 2021
Topics: Biophysics; Drug Discovery; Humans
PubMed: 34415216
DOI: 10.1177/24725552211035123 -
Biophysical Journal Oct 2020
Topics: Biophysical Phenomena; Biophysics; Calcium
PubMed: 33031740
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.09.032 -
Biophysical Journal Feb 2017
Topics: Biophysics; Genomics; Periodicals as Topic
PubMed: 28109530
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.01.002 -
Trends in Microbiology Apr 2020All cellular membranes have the functionality of generating and maintaining the gradients of electrical and electrochemical potentials. Such potentials were generally... (Review)
Review
All cellular membranes have the functionality of generating and maintaining the gradients of electrical and electrochemical potentials. Such potentials were generally thought to be an essential but homeostatic contributor to complex bacterial behaviors. Recent studies have revised this view, and we now know that bacterial membrane potential is dynamic and plays signaling roles in cell-cell interaction, adaptation to antibiotics, and sensation of cellular conditions and environments. These discoveries argue that bacterial membrane potential dynamics deserve more attention. Here, we review the recent studies revealing the signaling roles of bacterial membrane potential dynamics. We also introduce basic biophysical theories of the membrane potential to the microbiology community and discuss the needs to revise these theories for applications in bacterial electrophysiology.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biophysics; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Electrophysiology; Eukaryota; Membrane Potentials
PubMed: 31952908
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.12.008 -
Nature Methods Oct 2020Frugally built technology to study the ocean’s microbes, and engineering for societal good.
Frugally built technology to study the ocean’s microbes, and engineering for societal good.
Topics: Biophysics; Conservation of Natural Resources; Environmental Monitoring; History, 21st Century; Oceans and Seas
PubMed: 32913323
DOI: 10.1038/s41592-020-0968-8 -
Cell Reports Oct 2019Recent rapid progress in the field of mechanobiology has been driven by novel emerging tools and methodologies and growing interest from different scientific... (Review)
Review
Recent rapid progress in the field of mechanobiology has been driven by novel emerging tools and methodologies and growing interest from different scientific disciplines. Specific progress has been made toward understanding how cell mechanics is linked to intracellular signaling and the regulation of gene expression in response to a variety of mechanical stimuli. There is a direct link between the mechanoreceptors at the cell surface and intracellular biochemical signaling, which in turn controls downstream effector molecules. Among the mechanoreceptors in the cell membrane, mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels are essential for the ultra-rapid (millisecond) transduction of mechanical stimuli into biologically relevant signals. The three decades of research on mechanosensitive channels resulted in the formulation of two basic principles of mechanosensitive channel gating: force-from-lipids and force-from-filament. In this review, we revisit the biophysical principles that underlie the innate force-sensing ability of mechanosensitive channels as contributors to the force-dependent evolution of life forms.
Topics: Animals; Biophysics; Cell Membrane; Humans; Ion Channels; Mechanoreceptors; Mechanotransduction, Cellular; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 31577940
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.08.075 -
Trends in Immunology Feb 2022Antitumor immunosurveillance is triggered by immune cell recognition of characteristic biochemical signals on the surfaces of cancer cells. Recent data suggest that the... (Review)
Review
Antitumor immunosurveillance is triggered by immune cell recognition of characteristic biochemical signals on the surfaces of cancer cells. Recent data suggest that the mechanical properties of cancer cells influence the strength of these signals, with physically harder target cells (more rigid) eliciting better, faster, and stronger cytotoxic responses against metastasis. Using analogies to a certain electronic music duo, we argue that the biophysical properties of cancer cells and their environment can adjust the volume and tone of the antitumor immune response. We also consider the potential influence of biomechanics-based immunosurveillance in disease progression and posit that targeting the biophysical properties of cancer cells in concert with their biochemical features could increase the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Biophysics; Humans; Immunotherapy; Monitoring, Immunologic; Neoplasms
PubMed: 34973924
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2021.12.003