Cell adhesion intimately linked to metabolism?

In summary: I think that's the first thing that comes to mind.In summary, although cell adhesion and mechanosensing are well known to play important roles in tissue physiology, there is a lack of research linking cell adhesion to metabolism. This is an interesting gap in our understanding and could have profound effects on our understanding of cancer development and stem cell therapy.
  • #1
gravenewworld
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Integrin-PI3K-Akt signal transduction is well known. Akt signaling has been heavily reviewed and is well known to play a role in metabolism. So why do I have difficulty finding any research that has linked cell adhesion to metabolism? It would make sense. If a cell became cancerous, one way for the body to protect against metastasis would be to shut down the metabolism of that cell if its adhesion started to go haywire in order to prevent it from spreading. I could see profound effects on research here if a clear link between cell adhesion and metabolism were ever made. Anyone know of any papers on this It would also be interesting in a sense that something purely mechanical, like cell adhesion, could control metabolism.
 
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  • #2
Trying looking up mechanobiology, there is a tonne of research out there regarding the effect substrate material properties (stiffness, topography, friction etc) adjust cell behaviour.
 
  • #3
Ryan_m_b said:
Trying looking up mechanobiology, there is a tonne of research out there regarding the effect substrate material properties (stiffness, topography, friction etc) adjust cell behaviour.
I have, the only thing I can find ( and that we were taught) is that mechanobiology regulates morphology, transcription of certain genes, differentiation, etc., but I can not find anything specifically linking cellular adhesion to regulation of metabolism. I've done quick searches on integrins and metabolism, integrin and metabolism regulation, etc. but come up with nothing decent.
 
  • #4
Also it would make sense then that many stem cell therapy trials end up failing or produce mediocre results (which is what we are observing for the most part) if people are just making suspensions of stem cells and trying to simply inject them in praying for a clinical effect. If the cells are in suspension before being injected they could already be primed for failure before the experiment even really begins if they're on the path towards metabolic arrest no?
 
  • #5
gravenewworld said:
Integrin-PI3K-Akt signal transduction is well known. Akt signaling has been heavily reviewed and is well known to play a role in metabolism. So why do I have difficulty finding any research that has linked cell adhesion to metabolism? It would make sense. If a cell became cancerous, one way for the body to protect against metastasis would be to shut down the metabolism of that cell if its adhesion started to go haywire in order to prevent it from spreading. I could see profound effects on research here if a clear link between cell adhesion and metabolism were ever made. Anyone know of any papers on this It would also be interesting in a sense that something purely mechanical, like cell adhesion, could control metabolism.

I think you are mixing up a few concepts- for example 'the body' cannot not shut down a particular cell except as an immune response. Cells act based on *local* effects, and 'metabolism' is an organismal concept- going from the cell to the organism isn't fully understood yet.

The only work I know of linking mechanosensation and tissue dynamics is in the context of either bone remodeling or stem cells. Even so, there is a clear relation between cell-matrix adhesion and the cell cycle- for example, injury repair. In the kidney, the epithelial cells de-differentiate, proliferate to restore tubule integrity, and then re-differentiate. The hypothesis is that flow sensing drives this process, but the details are still unknown. (shameless self-promotion: I have a recent PLOS article showing that mechanical stimulation changes the differentiation process in renal epithelia)

Another link is in cancer metastasis: cells detach from the matrix, migrate to the blood, and then travel throughout the body. It is known that secondary tumors are not formed randomly: IIRC, prostate cancer preferentially seeds in the bone. This process is not understood, and is sometimes the "soil or the seed" problem.

http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/tab1.aspx?EventID=1032604
 
  • #6
I'm not sure about metabolism, but a lot of labs, such as the laboratory of Donald Ingber at Harvard, have studied the role of cell adhesion and mechanosignalling in cancer development. See for example http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1535610805002679. Furthermore, it has been proposed that tissue engineering strategies could possibly be used to convert cancerous cells back to normal cells although this research is only in the early stages: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2570051/
 
  • #7
I remember integrin being associated with insulin receptors and growth factor.
 

1. What is cell adhesion and how is it related to metabolism?

Cell adhesion refers to the process by which cells attach to each other or to their surrounding extracellular matrix. This is important for maintaining tissue structure and function. Metabolism, on the other hand, refers to the chemical processes that occur within a cell to maintain life. These two processes are intimately linked because cell adhesion requires energy from metabolic processes to occur, and the regulation of cell adhesion is also influenced by metabolic pathways.

2. How does cell adhesion contribute to overall cellular function?

Cell adhesion plays a crucial role in various cellular functions such as cell signaling, growth and division, and movement. It also helps maintain tissue integrity and function by allowing cells to form organized structures and communicate with each other.

3. What are the main molecules involved in cell adhesion?

The main molecules involved in cell adhesion are integrins, cadherins, and selectins. Integrins are transmembrane proteins that connect the cell to the extracellular matrix, while cadherins are proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion. Selectins are also involved in cell-cell adhesion, particularly in the process of inflammation.

4. How is cell adhesion regulated?

Cell adhesion is regulated by a complex interplay between signaling pathways, cytoskeletal dynamics, and the extracellular matrix. Metabolic pathways also play a role in regulating cell adhesion by providing energy and building blocks for the synthesis of adhesion molecules.

5. What happens if there is a dysfunction in cell adhesion or metabolism?

Dysfunction in cell adhesion or metabolism can lead to various diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic disorders. For example, mutations in adhesion molecules can disrupt cell-cell interactions and contribute to cancer metastasis, while metabolic disorders such as diabetes can affect cellular adhesion and contribute to tissue damage.

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