Mechanical Trapping of the Cell Nucleus into Microgroove Concavity but not on Convexity Induces Cell Tissue Growth and Vascular Smooth Muscle Differentiation

Academic Background Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) in the normal aortic wall regulate vascular contraction and dilation. However, under pathological conditions, VSMCs transition from a contractile phenotype to a synthetic phenotype and actively participate in the remodeling of the aortic wall. Although many in vitro studies have reported the ...

A Multicellular Mechanochemical Model to Investigate Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling and Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with liver metastasis being a common occurrence. Before tumor metastasis, the formation of the Pre-Metastatic Niche (PMN) is a critical process. PMN involves the activation of key liver-resident cells, including fibroblast-like stellate cells and mac...

Assessing the Effects of Dasatinib on Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells

Academic Background Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs) are a type of multipotent stem cells widely used in regenerative medicine and cell therapy. However, MSCs undergo progressive aging (senescence) during in vitro culture, leading to a decline in their proliferation and differentiation capabilities, which poses a significant obstacle to their ...

Simulation of Somatic Evolution through the Introduction of Random Mutation to the Rules of Conway’s Game of Life

Academic Background Since its introduction in 1970, Conway’s Game of Life (GoL) has been a classic model for studying the behavior of complex systems. As a Cellular Automata (CA) model, GoL simulates the life and death of cells on a two-dimensional grid through simple rules, demonstrating complex behaviors emerging from these rules. Although GoL ha...

Fibroblast-Adipocyte Lineage Cell Interactions Result in Differential Production of Extracellular Matrix Proteins

Academic Background Scar formation is a common issue following trauma, burns, and other complications, significantly impacting the quality of life for millions of people worldwide. Fibroblasts play a central role in pathological scar formation, making them a common target for developing new therapies to promote healing and reduce scarring. Recent s...