@article {326,
	title = {Engineering strategies to recapitulate epithelial morphogenesis within synthetic three-dimensional extracellular matrix with tunable mechanical properties.},
	journal = {Phys Biol},
	volume = {8},
	year = {2011},
	month = {2011 Apr},
	pages = {026013},
	abstract = {<p>The mechanical properties (e.g. stiffness) of the extracellular matrix (ECM) influence cell fate and tissue morphogenesis and contribute to disease progression. Nevertheless, our understanding of the mechanisms by which ECM rigidity modulates cell behavior and fate remains rudimentary. To address this issue, a number of two and three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel systems have been used to explore the effects of the mechanical properties of the ECM on cell behavior. Unfortunately, many of these systems have limited application because fiber architecture, adhesiveness and/or pore size often change in parallel when gel elasticity is varied. Here we describe the use of ECM-adsorbed, synthetic, self-assembling peptide (SAP) gels that are able to recapitulate normal epithelial acini morphogenesis and gene expression in a 3D context. By exploiting the range of viscoelasticity attainable with these SAP gels, and their ability to recreate native-like ECM fibril topology with minimal variability in ligand density and pore size, we were able to reconstitute normal and tumor-like phenotypes and gene expression patterns in nonmalignant mammary epithelial cells. Accordingly, this SAP hydrogel system presents the first tunable system capable of independently assessing the interplay between ECM stiffness and multi-cellular epithelial phenotype in a 3D context.</p>
},
	keywords = {Biomechanical Phenomena, Epithelium, Extracellular Matrix, Gene Expression, Humans, Hydrogels, Morphogenesis, Peptides, Porosity, Tissue Engineering},
	issn = {1478-3975},
	doi = {10.1088/1478-3975/8/2/026013},
	author = {Miroshnikova, Y A and Jorgens, D M and Spirio, L and Auer, M and Sarang-Sieminski, A L and Weaver, V M}
}
@article {386,
	title = {A tense situation: forcing tumour progression.},
	journal = {Nat Rev Cancer},
	volume = {9},
	year = {2009},
	month = {2009 Feb},
	pages = {108-22},
	abstract = {<p>Cells within tissues are continuously exposed to physical forces including hydrostatic pressure, shear stress, and compression and tension forces. Cells dynamically adapt to force by modifying their behaviour and remodelling their microenvironment. They also sense these forces through mechanoreceptors and respond by exerting reciprocal actomyosin- and cytoskeletal-dependent cell-generated force by a process termed \&$\#$39;mechanoreciprocity\&$\#$39;. Loss of mechanoreciprocity has been shown to promote the progression of disease, including cancer. Moreover, the mechanical properties of a tissue contribute to disease progression, compromise treatment and might also alter cancer risk. Thus, the changing force that cells experience needs to be considered when trying to understand the complex nature of tumorigenesis.</p>
},
	keywords = {Animals, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, Cytoskeleton, Disease Progression, Gene Expression, Humans, Mechanotransduction, Cellular, Neoplasms, Neoplastic Processes, Stress, Mechanical},
	issn = {1474-1768},
	doi = {10.1038/nrc2544},
	author = {Butcher, Darci T and Alliston, Tamara and Weaver, Valerie M}
}
