Stretch-Activated Calcium Signal Propagation Following Mechanical Stimulation of Focal Adhesions

Cells translate environmental mechanical stimuli into biochemical reactions that govern a range of cellular processes such as proliferation, death and tissue matrix remodeling. Mechanical activation of individual focal adhesions formed between the cell and its environment directly correspond to several internal responses. Intracellular calcium concentration, [Ca²⁺]_in, has been shown to profoundly change during force sensing. In order to understand this dynamic in cells, we compared calcium mobilization resulting from chemical stimulation and that resulting from mechanical stimulation. We have analyzed the response of fibroblasts to membrane displacements of over 5 μm resulting in eventual spikes in [Ca²⁺]_in. Our data initially indicates that fibroblasts may process mechanical calcium events in unique manner in comparison to other cell types. This finding has implications in a range of fields including mechanobiology and magnetics based activation.