How an Eukaryotic Cell Senses the Substrate Stiffness? An Exploration Using a Finite Element Model With Cytoskeleton Modelled as Tensegrity Structure

Mammalian cells in vivo are connected to the ECM (or other substrate, SS) or other cells having elastic moduli ranging from 10 to 10000 Pa. Several experimental evidences relate cell processes (e.g. changes of spreading area, cytoskeletal filament assembling, focal adhesion complex (FAC)) to SS stiffness, but how a passive substrate affects these cell processes is still unknown [1,2].