Development of system for visualization of cell function under pressure stimulation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Pressio neuro-brain science: principle for brain function development through compressive stresses under physiological or pathological condition
• Project/Area Number: 21H05128
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Transformative Research Areas, Section (III)
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Morimatsu Masatoshi 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 助教 (70580934)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-08-23 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 圧刺激 / メカノバイオロジー / センサープローブ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have developed tools to visualize and quantify cellular functions under pressure stimulation. As a result, we developed sensor probes to quantify cell adhesion force and nucleus tension force, and succeeded in measuring cellular responses in response to pressure stimulation with the research group. In addition, we succeeded in developing the stable pressure stimulation system and measuring cellular functions under pressure-stimulated conditions in real time. We also found unexpected biological phenomena while conducting collaborative experiments in the field, and succeeded in creating a new phenomenon of cellular pressure stimulation response.

Free Research Field

生物物理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

組織や器官を構成する細胞は、周囲の力学刺激を受容し、細胞自身や組織の機能調節に利用している。本領域のターゲットである脳組織のみならず、血管や関節といった様々な組織においても、組織を構成する細胞は圧刺激を受容し、機能の発現・調節を行う。本研究成果で得られた基礎技術は、組織内の細胞および細胞構成分子に作用する力の定量的な制御と空間的パターンの可視化を加速し、組織機能の発現・調節におけるその圧刺激受容応答の役割の解明につながる。