N-cadherin peptides modulate integrin-mediated mechanosensing and preserve mesenchymal stem cell phenotype on tunable hydrogels.

Abstract excerpt

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a clinically relevant cell source for regenerative therapies, but it is difficult to expand them in vitro without losing stemness. Standard culture on supraphysiologically stiff tissue culture plastic activates mechanosensitive signaling linked to osteogenic differentiation and reduced multipotency. Although very soft materials (∼1 kPa) are known to preserve stemness,...

Topics

• Mesenchymal Stem Cells
• Hydrogels
• Humans
• Mechanotransduction, Cellular
• Cadherins
• Integrins