Substrate Stiffness Affects Laminin-332 Matrix Deposition in Cultured Keretinocytes

It has been reported that the mechanical properties of a substrate influence cell motility, morphology, and adhesion [1–3]. This work is an attempt to move a step further beyond cells’ sensing the mechanical properties of their environment, by determining whether the secretion and assembly of laminin extracellular matrix is regulated by the mechanical environment in which the cell is placed. We hypothesize that this matrix then influences the behavior of the cell, particularly with regard to its motility.