Scaling up single-cell mechanics to multicellular tissues - The role of the intermediate filament-desmosome network

Joshua A. Broussard*, Avinash Jaiganesh, Hoda Zarkoob, Daniel E. Conway, Alexander R. Dunn, Horacio D. Espinosa, Paul A. Janmey, Kathleen J. Green

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cells and tissues sense, respond to and translate mechanical forces into biochemical signals through mechanotransduction, which governs individual cell responses that drive gene expression, metabolic pathways and cell motility, and determines how cells work together in tissues. Mechanotransduction often depends on cytoskeletal networks and their attachment sites that physically couple cells to each other and to the extracellular matrix. Oneway that cells associate with each other is through Ca2+-dependent adhesion molecules called cadherins, which mediate cell-cell interactions through adherens junctions, thereby anchoring and organizing the cortical actin cytoskeleton. This actin-based network confers dynamic properties to cell sheets and developing organisms. However, these contractile networks do not work alone but in concert with other cytoarchitectural elements, including a diverse network of intermediate filaments. This Review takes a close look at the intermediate filament network and its associated intercellular junctions, desmosomes. We provide evidence that this system not only ensures tissue integrity, but also cooperates with other networks to create more complex tissues with emerging properties in sensing and responding to increasingly stressful environments. We will also draw attention to how defects in intermediate filament and desmosome networks result in both chronic and acquired diseases.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number228031
JournalJournal of cell science
Volume133
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 16 2020

Funding

K.J.G., R03 AR068096 and R35 GM119617 to D.E.C., and P01 GM096971 to P.A.J.); the J.L. Mayberry endowment to K.J.G.; the American Heart Association (AHA) (19POST34370124 to A.J. and 18POST33960144 to H.Z.); and a Multi-University Research Initiative through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR-FA9550-15-1-0009) and National Science Foundation (NSF) DMR-1408901 to H.D.E. Deposited in PMC for release after 12 months. Work in the authors laboratories is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (K01 AR075087 to J.A.B., R01 AR041836, R37 AR43380 and R01 CA228196 to

Keywords

  • Cadherin
  • Cell-cell adhesion
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Desmosome
  • Intermediate filaments
  • Mechanotransduction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

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