An “abnormal” effect of matrix stiffness on stem cell differentiation
It is a milestone to realize that stem cells can sense stiffness of extracellular matrices (ECMs) and biomaterials. The common knowledge in this field teaches us that while osteogenesis is promoted on the stiff matrices, adipogenesis is enhanced on the soft ones. However, Ding group reports an “abnormal” tendency of matrix-stiffness-directed stem cell differentiation in the cases of adipogenic induction at high seeding densities in two-dimensional culture. They interpret such a complex stiffness effect as the interplay of matrix stiffness and cell-cell contact. The study strengthens the essence of the stiffness effect, and highlights the combinatory effects of ECM cues and cell cues on stem cell differentiation.
The work was published in an ACS journal in 2016, with Mr. Kai YE, a Ph.D student as the first author.
Interplay of matrix stiffness and cell-cell contact in regulating differentiation of stem cells
Kai Ye, Luping Cao, Shiyu Li, Lin Yu, Jiandong Ding*, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 8, 21903−21913 (2016)