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Mechanical Stretch-Induced Reorganization of the Cytoskeleton and the Small GTPase Rac-1 in Cardiac Fibroblasts

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Book cover Mechanosensitivity of the Heart

Part of the book series: Mechanosensitivity in Cells and Tissues ((MECT,volume 3))

Abstract

Mechanical forces play important roles in development and disease of most tissues. In vivo studies have illustrated that increased mechanical load as seen during neonatal development or in the hypertensive adult promote a fibrotic response in the heart. In vitro studies have established that mechanical stretch of isolated cardiac fibroblasts directly stimulates expression of extracellular matrix components and proliferation, both hallmarks of fibrosis. While significant advances have been made in understanding the effects of mechanical forces on cardiac fibroblasts, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms whereby mechanical forces are transduced into changes in cellular phenotype. The linkage between the extracellular matrix, integrin receptors and the cytoskeleton undoubtedly plays a critical role in this process. We have recently shown that mechanical stretch induces rapid changes in cardiac fibroblast morphology and the organization of the actin cytoskeleton. The Rho family of small GTPases has received considerable attention in their role in organizing the actin cytoskeleton. Data is presented herein providing quantitative analysis of alterations in the activation and subcellular organization of the small GTPase Rac-1 following equibiaxial stretch of isolated cardiac fibroblasts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, School of Medicine Columbia, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Wayne Carver & John W. Fuseler

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  1. Wayne Carver
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  1. Dept. Fundamental &, Russian State Medical University, Ostrovitjanova Str. 1, Moskva, 117997, Russian Federation

    Andre Kamkin

  2. Dept. Fundamental &, Russian State Medical University, Ostrovitjanova Str. 1, Moskva, 117997, Russian Federation

    Irina Kiseleva

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Carver, W., Fuseler, J.W. (2010). Mechanical Stretch-Induced Reorganization of the Cytoskeleton and the Small GTPase Rac-1 in Cardiac Fibroblasts. In: Kamkin, A., Kiseleva, I. (eds) Mechanosensitivity of the Heart. Mechanosensitivity in Cells and Tissues, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2850-1_2

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