Dynamic filopodial forces induce accumulation, damage, and plastic remodeling of 3D extracellular matrices
Fig 2
Mechanical signaling through long-range displacement propagation is cell-matrix specific and can be modified by remodeling.
(a) 3D displacement vectors from the FIDVC algorithm, color-coded according to the magnitude of the cumulative displacement, for three representative cells in the three different matrices tested. Cumulative displacement includes both elastic and plastic components over the duration of the ECM remodeling process. (b) Normalized displacement length vs. distance from the cell membrane for the matrix cases analyzed (N = 5 cells per condition, with displacement lengths vs. distance being averaged from four radial directions per cell). A theoretical representation for isotropic materials, decaying as (distance)-2, is shown for comparison. (c) 3D displacement fields for a representative case of a breast cancer cell in collagen: (left) force recovery with matrix remodeling, with cumulative displacements being both plastic and elastic; (center) the plastic (non-elastic) component; and (right) force relaxation after decellularization, with displacements presumed to be the elastic component.