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Mammalian cells measure the extracellular matrix area and respond through switching the adhesion state

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaole Wang

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

  • Pengli Wang

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

  • Lihang Zhang

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

  • Tianyu Xu

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

  • Seungkuk Ahn

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48
    University College Dublin)

  • Upnishad Sharma

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

  • Han Yu

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

  • Nico Strohmeyer

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

  • Daniel J. Müller

    (Klingelbergstrasse 48)

Abstract

Mammalian cells adjust integrin-mediated adhesion based on the composition and structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, how spatially confined ECM ligands regulate cell adhesion initiation remains unclear. Here, we investigate how cells adapt early adhesion to different ECM protein areas. Through combining microcontact printing with single-cell force spectroscopy we measure cell adhesion initiation and strengthening to defined areas of ECM proteins. HeLa cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts gradually increase adhesion with collagen I or fibronectin area, while reaching maximum adhesion force to ECM patterns having areas above certain thresholds. On much smaller patterns, both cell types switch to a different state and considerably increase the adhesion force per ECM protein area, which they strengthen much faster. This spatially enhanced adhesion state does not require talin or kindlin, indicating a fundamentally different adhesion mechanism. Mechanotransduction seems to play integrin and cell type-specific roles in the spatially enhanced adhesion state.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaole Wang & Pengli Wang & Lihang Zhang & Tianyu Xu & Seungkuk Ahn & Upnishad Sharma & Han Yu & Nico Strohmeyer & Daniel J. Müller, 2025. "Mammalian cells measure the extracellular matrix area and respond through switching the adhesion state," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62153-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62153-7
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