本研究は、マイクロ曲面上で血管平滑筋細胞が示す挙動の詳細を観察するために、培養面の曲率を操作可能な新しい細胞培養技術の開発に取り組んだ。変形する曲面の上で血管平滑筋細胞を培養し、培養面の曲率の変化に対する細胞の配向追従挙動の観察を初めて実現した。さらに細胞培養系に改良を施すことで、曲面上で細胞が発する張力の計測に取り組み、培養面の凸形状が平滑筋細胞の表現型を収縮型に誘導することを示唆する結果を得た。
We developed a new micro-cell-culture platform that enables temporal change of curvature of the cell-adhering surface, to investigate the detail of unique behaviours that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) show on curved surfaces at the scale of several hundred micrometres. To prove the concept, VSMCs were exposed to a sudden change of the curvature of the cell-adhering plane, and their response in orientation was monitored, showing their acute sensitivity to the surface curvature. Additionally, cellular contractility was measured by improving the controlling system. These observations on VSMCs on curved surfaces suggest that the curvature of the cell-adhering plane has a significant impact on the phenotype of VSMCs.

研究種目 : 若手研究
研究期間 : 2019～2020
課題番号 : 19K20679
研究分野 : メカノバイオロジー