Biophysical Society Thematic Meeting

Mechanobiology of Disease

Poster Abstracts

112

39-POS

Board 39

Mechanotransduction and Redox Signaling in Stem Cells

Thasaneeya Kuboki

, Fahsai Kantawong

, Satoru Kidoaki

Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Kyushu University, Fukuoka,

Fukuoka, Japan,

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially H2O2 that mainly generated from NADPH oxidase

(NOX) from mitochondria could function as a second messenger in redox signaling. Oxidative

stress, the excess or imbalance of ROS and the antioxidant system of the cells, plays an

important role in several pathological diseases such as atherosclerosis, cancer neurodegeneration

and aging. Increasing evidences indicated the correlation of mechanical stimuli, redox signaling

and pathological diseases. In tissue fibrosis, the NOX 4 in pulmonary fibroblasts was up-

regulated. Overexpression of antioxidant enzymes or decreasing ROS provided protective effect

whereas the redox imbalance enhanced fibrosis. The mammary epithelial cells on soft

polyacrylamide gel decreased the ROS production with inhibition of NOX assembly.

Our study focuses on an investigation of the interplay between mechanotransduction and redox

signaling using stem cell as a model study. Emerging evidence suggests that the balance between

ROS and antioxidant enzymes could regulate stem cell fate, function and survival. The surface

elasticity tunable hydrogel for cell manipulation was fabricated using photocurable styrenated

gelatin. We observed the changes in expression of antioxidant enzymes in stem cells on various

gel stiffness such as the up-regulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-

transferase (GST) via proteomic analysis. In a recent study, stem cells cultured on the soft

gelatinous gel developed neuron-like shape, increased expression of neurogenic markers and

changed the expression of SOD, GST and other redox related genes such as thioredoxin (TRX)

and peroxiredoxin (PRX). The cellular redox state such as the NOX/ROS level and antioxidant

activity of the cells on various elasticity conditions are now being investigated. Understanding

the relationship between mechanotransduction and redox homeostasis of the cells would provide

significant implication in cell physiology including the mechanism underlying the development

of pathological diseases.