Inducing Neurite Outgrowth by Mechanical Cell Stretch

Authors

Suzanne Higgins, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jeong Soon Lee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ligyeom Ha, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jung Yul Lim, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2013

Citation

BioResearch Volume 2, Number 3, June 2013

Comments

Copyright Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Open access

DOI: 10.1089/biores.2013.0008

Abstract

Establishing extracellular milieus to stimulate neuronal regeneration is a critical need in neuronal tissue engineering. Many studies have used a soluble factor (such as nerve growth factor or retinoic acid [RA]), micropatterned substrate, and electrical stimulation to induce enhanced neurogenesis in neuronal precursor cells. However, little attention has been paid to mechanical stimulation because neuronal cells are not generally recognized as being mechanically functional, a characteristic of mechanoresponsive cells such as osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and muscle cells. In this study, we performed proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate the potential anabolic effects of mechanical stretch to enhance cellular neurogenesis. We cultured human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells on collagen- coated membrane and applied 10% equibiaxial dynamic stretch (0.25 Hz, 120 min/d for 7 days) using a Flexcell device. Interestingly, cell stretch alone, even without a soluble neurogenic stimulatory factor (RA), produced significantly more and longer neurites than the non–RA-treated, static control. Specific neuronal differentiation and cytoskeletal markers (e.g., microtubule-associated protein 2 and neurofilament light chain) displayed compatible variations with respect to stretch stimulation.