Mesenchymal Stem Cell Response to Micropatterns and Dynamic Topographies

The native extracellular matrix is a dynamic environment, but it is not clear how cells react to time changing signals. To investigate this, we exploited light responsive azobenzene based platforms, able to display spatiotemporal changes of topographic signals. Mesenchymal stem cells were cultivated on either rectangular or circular adhesive islets in order to promote either a high or low contractile phenotype. Submicron scale topography was switched on at selected time points to interfere with adhesion and cytoskeleton assembly. Cells responded to the dynamic changes by altering their mechanical properties, lamins expression and YAP nuclear import. Changes at receptor or cytoskeleton level are observed a relatively small timeframes, whereas Lamins and YAP nuclear accumulation required longer times. Our data could be useful to develop culturing systems able to challenge stem cells with specific programmes of mechanical/topographical signals thus understanding how cells integrate those in time.