Open AccessPhysics and Physiology of Cell Spreading in Two and Three Dimensions
Author(s) -
Paul A. Janmey,
Boris Hinz,
Christopher A. McCulloch
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.14
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1548-9213
pISSN - 1548-9221
DOI - 10.1152/physiol.00020.2021
Subject(s) - cell physiology , function (biology) , cell function , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , field (mathematics) , biology , nanotechnology , neuroscience , physics , biophysics , physiology , biochemistry , materials science , mathematics , pure mathematics
Cells spread on surfaces and within three-dimensional (3-D) matrixes as they grow, divide, and move. Both chemical and physical signals orchestrate spreading during normal development, wound healing, and pathological states such as fibrosis and tumor growth. Diverse molecular mechanisms drive different forms of cell spreading. This article discusses mechanisms by which cells spread in 2-D and 3-D and illustrates new directions in studies of this aspect of cell function.